Château Rayas
Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Clairette Grenache Blanc
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
Oh man what a special wine. Had to finish a great food and wine trip strong and this rare Rayas blanc from the fantastic list at Addison did not disappoint. Drinking at its apogee, it’s rich, wide open and firing on all cylinders with an attractive waxy texture and layered complexity.
Takes a turn to magic town after 2 hours open. It is highly focused with great power, structure, balanced acidity and tremendous depth. Torched pineapple, melon, melted butter, minerals and drizzled honey. There is superb concentration and midpalate intensity leading to a seamless transition to its exceptionally long finish that just won’t dissipate. Grateful to have snagged the last one! ❤️
Oh man what a special wine. Had to finish a great food and wine trip strong and this rare Rayas blanc from the fantastic list at Addison did not disappoint. Drinking at its apogee, it’s rich, wide open and firing on all cylinders with an attractive waxy texture and layered complexity.
Takes a turn to magic town after 2 hours open. It is highly focused with great power, structure, balanced acidity and tremendous depth. Torched pineapple, melon, melted butter, minerals and drizzled honey. There is superb concentration and midpalate intensity leading to a seamless transition to its exceptionally long finish that just won’t dissipate. Grateful to have snagged the last one! ❤️
First whiff almost medicinal which blew off. I decanted half and kept half in the bottle to compare. Tasted from the bottle first. Aromas of quince, peach,grapefruit and a touch of honey. On the palate - WOW - mouthfilling of profound intensity - honey and toffee notes with a refreshing twist of grapefruit to finish off. A full bodied rich white made up of 50% Grenache Blanc and 50% Clairette. Unctuous yet with vibrant energy and enough acid to stop it being blowsy. Great winemaking. Equally as enjoyable as a mature Grand Cru White Burgundy - My first Rayas Blanc and it was a stunning experience. One of the whites of the year! Then I tried the half that had been decanted and it had a little of that vibrant energy decanted out of it. To compare scores: 98 straight out of the bottle and 96 for the decanted version.
First whiff almost medicinal which blew off. I decanted half and kept half in the bottle to compare. Tasted from the bottle first. Aromas of quince, peach,grapefruit and a touch of honey. On the palate - WOW - mouthfilling of profound intensity - honey and toffee notes with a refreshing twist of grapefruit to finish off. A full bodied rich white made up of 50% Grenache Blanc and 50% Clairette. Unctuous yet with vibrant energy and enough acid to stop it being blowsy. Great winemaking. Equally as enjoyable as a mature Grand Cru White Burgundy - My first Rayas Blanc and it was a stunning experience. One of the whites of the year! Then I tried the half that had been decanted and it had a little of that vibrant energy decanted out of it. To compare scores: 98 straight out of the bottle and 96 for the decanted version.
Dec 1st, 2019
A majestic showing, quite dense aromatically, driven still by wooden spice, there are notes of viscous fruit, tropical tea, savory toffee and warm minerals. There is tremendous concentration and good acidity which carries this wine long on the palate. Definitely, wow.
A majestic showing, quite dense aromatically, driven still by wooden spice, there are notes of viscous fruit, tropical tea, savory toffee and warm minerals. There is tremendous concentration and good acidity which carries this wine long on the palate. Definitely, wow.
Dec 7th, 2018
Perfumed nose of honey , nuts and apricots. Tremendous concentration of flavors that are consistently changing as it sits in the glass. Pineapple, minerals , almonds , lime and honey all make appearances in every possible combination. A Reubenesque wine.
Perfumed nose of honey , nuts and apricots. Tremendous concentration of flavors that are consistently changing as it sits in the glass. Pineapple, minerals , almonds , lime and honey all make appearances in every possible combination. A Reubenesque wine.
Jul 21st, 2018
Loaded intense yellow
Cedar, kiwi, floral, musk, minerally, aromatic herbs, sage, spearmint, ginger
Balanced sip between the freshness and the fatness
Interminable salinity
Great substance
Already complex
It will age gracefully
Very fascinating and sensual
Hints of middle East spices
To buy and re-buy👍
Loaded intense yellow
Cedar, kiwi, floral, musk, minerally, aromatic herbs, sage, spearmint, ginger
Balanced sip between the freshness and the fatness
Interminable salinity
Great substance
Already complex
It will age gracefully
Very fascinating and sensual
Hints of middle East spices
To buy and re-buy👍
A wine that makes you reassess the capacity of what is possible.
A wine that makes you reassess the capacity of what is possible.
Jul 31st, 2017
Not sure why I waited this long to have this wine but very happy that I finally did.
Not sure why I waited this long to have this wine but very happy that I finally did.
1 person found it helpfulJun 1st, 2015
The wine that hipsters & collectors can happily agree on. Such a fresh expression of 2003. When north east exposure shows its benefits
The wine that hipsters & collectors can happily agree on. Such a fresh expression of 2003. When north east exposure shows its benefits
1 person found it helpfulMar 23rd, 2015
At 17 years, mature nose of yellow stone fruit marmalade, honeycomb and braised fennel. Intense and long with good acidity.
At 17 years, mature nose of yellow stone fruit marmalade, honeycomb and braised fennel. Intense and long with good acidity.
1 person found it helpfulAug 7th, 2014