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About Chateau Rayas
Historically cited as the exception that proves that a 100%-Grenache wine can be capable of long aging, Rayas has for decades been treasured for its unique combination of almost Burgundian red-berry perfume and extraordinary liqueur-like ripeness and mouth-filling richness. Founded in 1880 by Albert Reynaud, Chateau Rayas is now maintained by Albert’s great-grandson, Emmanuel.
2011 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape
Producer: Chateau Rayas
Style: Red Wine
Grape Type: Rhone Blend
Origin: France
Region: Rhone
Appellation: Chateauneuf du Pape
92-94 Points | International Wine Cellar , January/February 2013
Tasted in three components: #1: from "the heart of Rayas"; sexy, intensely perfumed aromas and flavors of red berries and flowers, with a spicy overtone. Juicy and sharply focused, with very good energy and appealing sweetness. Finishes with excellent power and lingering floral and spice notes. #2: from a parcel of called Coucheron; showing more minerality and lift than the first sample, offering tangy redcurrant and bitter cherry qualities and a sexy note of floral pastilles. Fine-grained and precise, with strong finishing cut and impressive clarity. #3: from a parcel that Reynaud called Le Ban; much darker in profile, offering cherry compote and blackberry aromas and a hint of licorice. Chewy and densely packed dark fruit flavors are braced by juicy acidity and pick up minerality with some air. Rich yet lively, with strong back-end grip.
