TN: 1996 Ch Rayas Côtes du Rhône Ch. de Fonsalette

1996 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Cuvée Syrah - still quite dark, with a nose of red fruit with bacon, but it now lacks the solidity it used to show and has faded a bit - enjoyable but I should have drunk up about 5 years ago. The bloom is officially off the rose!

[David M. Bueker]

I thought it was illegal to say anything remotely negative about Rayas.

[Jenise]

Bill, this is refreshing! You actually drank a wine you consider too old! Never thought I'd see the day.

Tried a second one last night. Same as first one. Hate leaving wines too long (rarely happens to me). But then it is 'only' a Cotes du Rhone. My CNduP are holding up just fine - well, with the exception of that 1989 Bosquet des Papes that tanked recently.

[David M. Bueker]

What’s really sad is that you could have sold those Rayas bottles for pretty big bucks.

What’s really sad is that you could have sold those Rayas bottles for pretty big bucks.

Well yes and no. I could have sold them without tasting but then I would never know if they were any good. And I couldn't in good conscience dump them once I knew that they were past prime. The cellar is supposedly worth 4X my original cost (according to CT) but if they are good I want to drink them and if they are bad and I knew it, I couldn't sell them. I expect that is similar to your attitude about your father's cellar

I suppose I could sell some of the high dollar stuff, but then I wouldn't have the enjoyment of drinking things like 85 Sassicaia and 95 Petrus and such. I never bought them with investment I mind, I plan on enjoying every one of them I have time to open

[David M. Bueker]

There have been a few things in my own cellar that I sold, as I could not see getting 10X the enjoyment from them as to when I bought them. While dad had a lot of great wines in his cellar there were no real Veblen goods.

Had the last bottle of the three tonight with dinner. It was the best of the three but still not what I would have expected' Sic transit around $1200 Can. at auction prices. Oh well, I've had far more pleasant surprises over the years with well aged wines than I have had disappointments.