94 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "This and the Pertimali Brunello were my two favored wines to drink throughout our dinner at Haru.Medium to deep garnet-brick. Cinnamon and black pepper aromas season the dried plum and red berry compote nose. The palate is full bodied but appears very elegant with seriously soft, velvety tannins and medium+ acidity. Very long finish with a pleasant savory / earthy character. (Jan 2009)"
92 points Robert Parker: "The 1989 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone is a beautifully made, seductive mouthful of wine. It is all velvet and silk, and there is a whopping degree of alcohol in the finish. Along with the huge 1990, it appears to be the finest Fonsalette since the late 1970s. The tannin is soft and the acidity is low, yet the wine's concentration and magical flavors (over-ripe, jammy cherries, truffles, grilled meats, and thyme) are dazzling. (2/22/96)"
92 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "This was last tasted in the spring of 1993, and at that time it was a young wine of superb potential. The nose exploded from the glass with scents of sweet cassis, smoked meats, grilled nuts, tobacco, pepper, earth and cedary wood. On the palate the wine was very deep and full-bodied, with better youthful delineation than the larger than life Cuvée Syrah, but with similar firm tannins, and a palate staining, long finish. At the time, I thought this was about as fine a bottle of Fonsalette that I had ever tasted, and would begin drinking well about 1998. Knowing what I do today, I suspect that this wine could still be a bit on the young side today, but will certainly be one of the reference point Fonsalettes of the late twentieth century. (Dec 2003)"
92 points Robert Parker: "The 1989 Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone is a beautifully made, seductive mouthful of wine. It is all velvet and silk, and there is a whopping degree of alcohol in the finish. Along with the huge 1990, it appears to be the finest Fonsalette since the late 1970s. The tannin is soft and the acidity is low, yet the wine's concentration and magical flavors (over-ripe, jammy cherries, truffles, grilled meats, and thyme) are dazzling. (2/22/96)"
92 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "This was last tasted in the spring of 1993, and at that time it was a young wine of superb potential. The nose exploded from the glass with scents of sweet cassis, smoked meats, grilled nuts, tobacco, pepper, earth and cedary wood. On the palate the wine was very deep and full-bodied, with better youthful delineation than the larger than life Cuvée Syrah, but with similar firm tannins, and a palate staining, long finish. At the time, I thought this was about as fine a bottle of Fonsalette that I had ever tasted, and would begin drinking well about 1998. Knowing what I do today, I suspect that this wine could still be a bit on the young side today, but will certainly be one of the reference point Fonsalettes of the late twentieth century. (Dec 2003)"
| Product SKU | 352496 |
| Producer | Rayas |
| Country | France |
| Region | Rhône |
| SubRegion | Southern Rhône |
| Appellation | Côtes du Rhône |
| Varietal | Rhone Blends - Red |
| Vintage | 1989 |
| Size | 750ml |
| Color | Red |
| Ships To |
