Château Rayas
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache
The 1995 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is served blind. I was unsure about the cleanliness of the aromatics here, although they coalesce with time, red berry fruit, singed leather and a light dried blood tincture. There's a touch of nail varnish in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a dash of balsamic, a little disjointed at first, but it gains harmony in the glass with plenty of Morello cherry and wild strawberry toward the finish. Fine, though the 2007 showed better two days earlier. Tasted at Burns & German's dinner to celebrate The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide book at Medlar. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
The 1995 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is served blind. I was unsure about the cleanliness of the aromatics here, although they coalesce with time, red berry fruit, singed leather and a light dried blood tincture. There's a touch of nail varnish in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a dash of balsamic, a little disjointed at first, but it gains harmony in the glass with plenty of Morello cherry and wild strawberry toward the finish. Fine, though the 2007 showed better two days earlier. Tasted at Burns & German's dinner to celebrate The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide book at Medlar. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
A gorgeous plush Burgundian nose with sexy and developed red fruit. Underlying that some of the dried herbs and bloodiness of Chateauneuf. A very poised and delicious wine with great balance, complexity and length. None of the muddiness of flavor or over-ripeness of some other CNdP’s. Great stuff.
A gorgeous plush Burgundian nose with sexy and developed red fruit. Underlying that some of the dried herbs and bloodiness of Chateauneuf. A very poised and delicious wine with great balance, complexity and length. None of the muddiness of flavor or over-ripeness of some other CNdP’s. Great stuff.
Dec 9th, 2022The wine has evolved much more than I thought it would. Color has dropped out significantly. Still a very good medium bodied rayas but drink now. Elegance of 100 pct Grenache still absolutely there. Drinking coche and reynauld next to eachother is a rare treat.
The wine has evolved much more than I thought it would. Color has dropped out significantly. Still a very good medium bodied rayas but drink now. Elegance of 100 pct Grenache still absolutely there. Drinking coche and reynauld next to eachother is a rare treat.
May 9th, 2021Elegant and wildly floral. A completely singular CdP.
Elegant and wildly floral. A completely singular CdP.
Mar 15th, 2020Drank this also with crazy québécois and a generous Frenchie. Initially a bit bretty and not particularly charming and the warmth of the vintage seemed to have dulled it, but then after about 30min it totally cleaned up and blew off and then revealed layers and layers of enchanting spicy floral tea and savory notes and most miraculous of all candied little red fruits and such a texture. Next one I open, I'll be sure to decant.
Drank this also with crazy québécois and a generous Frenchie. Initially a bit bretty and not particularly charming and the warmth of the vintage seemed to have dulled it, but then after about 30min it totally cleaned up and blew off and then revealed layers and layers of enchanting spicy floral tea and savory notes and most miraculous of all candied little red fruits and such a texture. Next one I open, I'll be sure to decant.
Apr 22nd, 2018Quite delicious! Plenty of life ahead. Fresh, fruity and kept me coming back for more.
Quite delicious! Plenty of life ahead. Fresh, fruity and kept me coming back for more.
Mar 6th, 2017Creosote, yielding to intense beautiful fruit. So alive on palate
Creosote, yielding to intense beautiful fruit. So alive on palate
Dec 17th, 2016Hauntingly good nose. In and out of cherry syrup on the palate.
Hauntingly good nose. In and out of cherry syrup on the palate.
May 22nd, 2016