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Chateau Rayas

2005 Chateau Rayas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Pignan

France Grenache Rhone Chateauneuf-du-Pape 750ML

Wine Advocate

91

Vinous

92

CellarTracker

92
/
2005 Chateau Rayas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Pignan
Chateau Rayas

2005 Chateau Rayas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Pignan

France Grenache Rhone Chateauneuf-du-Pape 750ML

Wine Advocate

91

Vinous

92

CellarTracker

92
/
0 In Stock

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Spoken about in hushed tones by many a collector, Chateau Rayas - and all of its arms from Fonsalette to Chateau des Tours - is known as the greatest Grenache producer in the world. After his uncle Jacques' passing in 1997, Emmanuel Reynaud has continually crafted phenomenal wines from each estate that are sought the world over.

Chateau Rayas

Several generations have run the Chateau Rayas, but Jacques Reynaud took the wines into the stratosphere, where Emmanuel has only served to keep them since his ascendance in 1997. Almost as reticent in accepting his fame as Jacques - who used to hide when cars would approach the Chateau - Emmanuel guards closely his recipe to the legendary wines escaping the estate every year.

We know that the vines are ancient and produce small, intense yields. There is no temperature-control in the cellars, and the wines ferment in concrete before being transferred to ancient barrels of several different sizes. That's it - no magic tricks, just patience; the wines will ferment for about a year, and then will be aged in bottle at the estates until they are deemed ready to drink; routinely vintages are released nearly a decade after their fermentations conclude.

The Chateau wines, Pignan and La Pialade are released from the Chateau Rayas' 13 hectares of red-sand, small-pebbled vineyards, surrounded by forests that create a cool microclimate.

Meet the Producer

Chateau Rayas

Spoken about in hushed tones by many a collector, Chateau Rayas - and all of its arms from Fonsalette to Chateau des Tours - is known as the greatest Grenache producer in the world. After his uncle Jacques' passing in 1997, Emmanuel Reynaud has continually crafted phenomenal wines from each estate that are sought the world over.

Several generations have run the Chateau Rayas, but Jacques Reynaud took the wines into the stratosphere, where Emmanuel has only served to keep them since his ascendance in 1997. Almost as reticent in accepting his fame as Jacques - who used to hide when cars would approach the Chateau - Emmanuel guards closely his recipe to the legendary wines escaping the estate every year.

We know that the vines are ancient and produce small, intense yields. There is no temperature-control in the cellars, and the wines ferment in concrete before being transferred to ancient barrels of several different sizes. That's it - no magic tricks, just patience; the wines will ferment for about a year, and then will be aged in bottle at the estates until they are deemed ready to drink; routinely vintages are released nearly a decade after their fermentations conclude.

The Chateau wines, Pignan and La Pialade are released from the Chateau Rayas' 13 hectares of red-sand, small-pebbled vineyards, surrounded by forests that create a cool microclimate.

The Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate

91

There are about 500 cases of the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Pignan, a gloriously decadent, hedonistic style of Chateauneuf du Pape with oodles of kirsch liqueur intermixed with licorice, lavender, spice box, and earth. Full-bodied and fleshy, this medium ruby-colored wine is a gorgeous expression of Grenache that is surprisingly supple for the vintage and very long. It should drink beautifully for 12-15 years. This great estate has been going through a transitional period, with some replanting in their vineyards, and of course the enormous challenge of replacing the legendary proprietor and winemaker, the late Jacques Reynaud, who passed away in the winter of 1997. Replaced by his nephew Emmanuel Reynaud, who had worked closely with his uncle, the early vintages, as I reported on in this publication, were good but hardly exciting. Reason to be concerned about the direction in which the estate was going was a legitimate worry. The 1998, 1999, and 2000 vintages were vintages where Rayas was well behind the pack of top producers in Chateauneuf du Pape. However, with that said, the tasting I did with Emmanuel Reynaud in late August was the best tasting I have done with him in a decade, and while it may be premature to say that Rayas is back to the greatness of Jacques Reynaud, Emmanuel has made some fabulous wines that are going to be released over the next

Vinous

Vinous

92

Bright red. Fresh raspberry and wild strawberry scents, with suave floral and baking spice qualities adding seductive complexity. Medium-bodied red fruit flavors boast superb balance and sweetness, picking up silky tannins on the long, sappy finish. There's really lovely perfume, finesse and clarity here, reminding me of a high-end Chambolle or Volnay.

What the Critics are Saying

The Wine Advocate

Wine Advocate

91

There are about 500 cases of the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Pignan, a gloriously decadent, hedonistic style of Chateauneuf du Pape with oodles of kirsch liqueur intermixed with licorice, lavender, spice box, and earth. Full-bodied and fleshy, this medium ruby-colored wine is a gorgeous expression of Grenache that is surprisingly supple for the vintage and very long. It should drink beautifully for 12-15 years. This great estate has been going through a transitional period, with some replanting in their vineyards, and of course the enormous challenge of replacing the legendary proprietor and winemaker, the late Jacques Reynaud, who passed away in the winter of 1997. Replaced by his nephew Emmanuel Reynaud, who had worked closely with his uncle, the early vintages, as I reported on in this publication, were good but hardly exciting. Reason to be concerned about the direction in which the estate was going was a legitimate worry. The 1998, 1999, and 2000 vintages were vintages where Rayas was well behind the pack of top producers in Chateauneuf du Pape. However, with that said, the tasting I did with Emmanuel Reynaud in late August was the best tasting I have done with him in a decade, and while it may be premature to say that Rayas is back to the greatness of Jacques Reynaud, Emmanuel has made some fabulous wines that are going to be released over the next

Vinous

Vinous

92

Bright red. Fresh raspberry and wild strawberry scents, with suave floral and baking spice qualities adding seductive complexity. Medium-bodied red fruit flavors boast superb balance and sweetness, picking up silky tannins on the long, sappy finish. There's really lovely perfume, finesse and clarity here, reminding me of a high-end Chambolle or Volnay.