Château Rayas
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
gorgeous and deep. Intoxicating. Intense and rounded
gorgeous and deep. Intoxicating. Intense and rounded
Apr 23rd, 2026deep and funky with spice and great depth. Black cherry and loads of complexity on the mid palate. A real stunner
deep and funky with spice and great depth. Black cherry and loads of complexity on the mid palate. A real stunner
Apr 23rd, 2026
Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 2010 pours a light ruby color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a gorgeous mix of mostly red and some dark fruits, red flowers, exotic spices, licorice, meat and garrigue. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. While not quite making the same impression that my previous experience with the 2010 Rayas had made, this is still a magnificent, singular wine. Drink now through 2050.
Opened prior to dinner; enjoyed over the course of several hours. This bottle of the 2010 pours a light ruby color with a transparent core; medium+ viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with a gorgeous mix of mostly red and some dark fruits, red flowers, exotic spices, licorice, meat and garrigue. On the palate the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. While not quite making the same impression that my previous experience with the 2010 Rayas had made, this is still a magnificent, singular wine. Drink now through 2050.
Mar 18th, 2026Intense and gorgeous and lush. Rich plum and hints of mocha. Spices and lovely soft notes of date and tangy ink. Spectacular
Intense and gorgeous and lush. Rich plum and hints of mocha. Spices and lovely soft notes of date and tangy ink. Spectacular
Oct 5th, 2025The nose is just gorgeous. Lifted and pure. Translucent. Bright consommé-like raspberry, cherry with an earthy bloodiness underpinning. Super pure. Excellent
The nose is just gorgeous. Lifted and pure. Translucent. Bright consommé-like raspberry, cherry with an earthy bloodiness underpinning. Super pure. Excellent
Apr 17th, 2025
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)
Served double-blind as a sort of epilogue to an already epic night. This was served alongside another red wine that was also presented double-blind. Immediately, I called this Southern Rhone and the other wine, Sangiovese from Toscano (it ended up being a 2012 Biondi Santi Riserva). This presented a bright ruby color in the glass with a transparent core. This wine…had an OMG nose. The kind of aromatics that could end all wars and bring a century of peace to all mankind. It’s both powerful and elegant. Both ripe and fresh. An androgynous wine that represents both masculine and feminine with a grace that would make Prince or David Bowie envious. Gorgeously layered red and dark fruits, exotic spices, licorice and garrigue wrapped in the most beautifully textured package imaginable. It reminded me of something similar a previous experience; like Fonsalette…but this was different, there was more here. When you taste this, everything becomes clear. You look at everyone at the table differently; for what you have more in common instead of what makes us different. An experience akin to an Odesza show on MDMA. It’s that profound and then you are forever changed. You wake up the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that and weeks go by and your worldview is different. You see love in everything. And then it was revealed to be a 2010 Chateau Rayas. *Insert expletive*. A magnificent wine. An epiphany and, as far as I’m concerned, perfect. This is not merely a great Chateauneuf du Pape. This transcends the appellation. It should be its own AOC. Drink now or whenever you’re reading this note.
Served double-blind as a sort of epilogue to an already epic night. This was served alongside another red wine that was also presented double-blind. Immediately, I called this Southern Rhone and the other wine, Sangiovese from Toscano (it ended up being a 2012 Biondi Santi Riserva). This presented a bright ruby color in the glass with a transparent core. This wine…had an OMG nose. The kind of aromatics that could end all wars and bring a century of peace to all mankind. It’s both powerful and elegant. Both ripe and fresh. An androgynous wine that represents both masculine and feminine with a grace that would make Prince or David Bowie envious. Gorgeously layered red and dark fruits, exotic spices, licorice and garrigue wrapped in the most beautifully textured package imaginable. It reminded me of something similar a previous experience; like Fonsalette…but this was different, there was more here. When you taste this, everything becomes clear. You look at everyone at the table differently; for what you have more in common instead of what makes us different. An experience akin to an Odesza show on MDMA. It’s that profound and then you are forever changed. You wake up the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that and weeks go by and your worldview is different. You see love in everything. And then it was revealed to be a 2010 Chateau Rayas. *Insert expletive*. A magnificent wine. An epiphany and, as far as I’m concerned, perfect. This is not merely a great Chateauneuf du Pape. This transcends the appellation. It should be its own AOC. Drink now or whenever you’re reading this note.
Jun 19th, 2023A 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, 2021