| Wine Type | Vintage Name Variety Locale | Date Posted Score Helpful Comments More... |
|---|---|---|
| Red |
2010 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
5/24/2023 - thesternowl wrote: 100 pointsJudgement of Paris Tasting and Dinner (V. Mertz - Omaha, NE): 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 to 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. 13 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (2) |
| Red |
2004 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
4/25/2019 - Eric Likes this wine: 97 pointsCelebrating CellarTracker's Fifteenth Anniversary (Seattle, WA): Wow. Wow. Wow. I don't have a lot of Rayas in the cellar, and I don't often open them, but they are such a treat. Light in color, almost pale, and faintly cloudy, this is a surprisingly powerful wine that is far more intense than the color would suggest. Screaming of white pepper, pine needle and cherry. Hyper-cherry. This is such a joyous and pure expression of Grenache, faintly sweet on the approach but more spicy and savory as you sit with it. Just haunting. This is still extremely primary. Very pure. |
| Red |
2005 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
12/3/2020 - Collector1855 wrote: 100 pointsRayas/Cdp dinner. Tasted next to the 2008 and 2006 which both were amazing as well. The 2005 was the most complete and for me in the three digit category. The strong point of Rayas is the spellbinding nose - with spices, cured meat, game, red cherry, musk - that you only find in few other great wines such as Leroy, Soldera, etc. The 2005 was still closed and needed some coaxing, opened with more air. Great structure here buffering the fruit, but stays elegant like all Rayas. Amazing wine, makes you wonder why not more CdP producers are trying to reproduce this, far superior style, then the rich, extracted syrupy CdPs. Best wait till 2025 before opening. |
| Red |
2004 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
4/7/2015 - ilee Likes this wine: 93 pointsAh the magical perfumed nose of Musigny... but hold on, isn't this a Chateauneuf du Pape?! And so goes yet another enigmatic, somewhat contradictory encounter with Rayas, which has folks (including myself) coughing up alarming amounts of cash for just a few gulps of an obscure wine from a small corner estate in the southern Rhone that reportedly leaves its cellars in appalling conditions. (Having tried to replicate this with my home study, I can confirm that mess does not necessarily produce genius, so the Reynaud family secret may lie elsewhere.) Moving past the nose into the palate, the dark clouds of Grenache start to appear on the otherwise bright pink strawberry horizon. After two hours in decanter, these clouds turn into a veritable black storm of juicy, savory berry, mint and overripe pineapple flavors. At this point, any illusion that we are still lying in some flower meadow outside Chambolle is swiftly dispelled by the sweet and somewhat fiery 14% alcohol. If this note is incoherent and unintelligible, said alcohol bears full responsibility. 6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (5) |
| Red |
2011 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan ReserveGrenache more |
3/25/2023 - William Kelley Likes this wine: NRThe 2011 Pignan is one of the best recent vintages of this cuvée. Soaring from the glass with aromas of lemon thyme, peonies, kirsch, rose petals, warm spices and blood orange, this cuvée always shows its stems more in its youth, and that's certainly the case this year. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and sapid, with melting tannins and a long, sapid, perfumed finish. For once, this is a wine whose market price is more coherent with its quality than the evaluations of the wine commentariat. |
| Red |
2007 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
8/1/2022 - KPB wrote: 100 pointsThis bottle, purchased directly from the Chateau, was astonishing. Light in color with an exciting, perfumed nose that whispered rather than shouting, with delicate floral tones, garrigue, griotte cherry, perhaps hints of the famous Kirsch aroma (but just a hint). Light yet balanced, long, endless. A revelation. 6 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (4) |
| Red |
2007 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
2/18/2021 - Paco55 wrote: 98 pointsNow this is something special! Hard to find and even harder to buy - this legendary boutique estate has huge expectations on it from a hyped vintage such as 2007. And I’m here to say it delivers in spades - this is spectacular! Bright ruby in colour. Asian spice aromas with cherries and blood orange form a stunning nose that screams of sex appeal. Light on its feet but immense depth of flavour with impressive purity and perfumed precision scream from the glass. This is remarkable wine that leaves a lasting impression well after the (looong) finish has faded. The heat from this vintage seems entirely irrelevant to this wine and it only improves with more time in the glass. You may have to sell your firstborn to get some but you may well not regret it after you’ve tasted this. 98 points 5 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3) |
| Red |
2006 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan ReserveGrenache more |
3/22/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote: NROh the days when this was more affordable, and now to backfill these in the US will require nearly $200. Yet, if I was to pull the trigger on this kind of spend, it's Pignan that I would shell out this kind of cash. I've always liked this vintage of Pignan, as it's distinctive and expresses qualities that are truly unique and glorious. This was opened last night, brought by a dear friend to help lighten my mood after a tough week. It showed beautifully last night and I brought home the last 6 ounces or so and left under cork in the fridge. Retasting tonight, proper temp and stem, too. Even with a cool chill from the fridge still present, the pepper comes right through the wine. The pepper frames the palate too, added by licorice, spice and a texture of the purest and silkiest cherry flavor. The finish is full of beautiful, accenting acidity and a loamy, soil tone. I tell you what, of all the red wines I have drank in my 30 years, there are few wines I can ever remember that leave such an impression, a distinct profile as Pignan. And to my friend who brought this to the dinner, thank you. Your friendship and support over a glass of Pignan means everything to me. |
| Red |
2008 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
4/27/2019 - Cailles wrote: 98 pointsFound at retail price level on a restaurant wine list with otherwise crazy markups (Chave Hermitage 2003 for 2500€ anyone?). Thanks to good CT reviews we jumped on it and we did not regret it. Beside the fact, that Rayas is certainly one of the most singular wines and in that gives intellectual pleasure, the highlights were the complexity, the ever-changing aroma profile paired with the signature Rayas structure which is as Burgundian as you can get (as a non-Pinot wine). The wine easily outshined a great two Michelin star dinner we had alongside. Worth any search and drinking well right now. |
| Red |
2006 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
12/3/2020 - Collector1855 wrote: 98 pointsRayas/Cdp dinner. Tasted next to the lighter but also amazing 2008 and the perfect 2005 which was even more complete, but this 2006 was scratching the 100 point mark as well. When I opened the wine it was instantly clear from the nose that we are in for something special. Here were the amazing tell tale Rayas nose - with spices, cured meat, game, red cherry, musk - that you only find in few other great wines of Leroy, Soldera, etc. The 2006 is just at the beginning of the drinking window with a well structure but elegant palate. It actually closed down a bit over dinner. Start drinking now, amazing wine, makes you wonder why not more CdP producers are trying to reproduce this, far superior style, then the rich, extracted syrupy CdPs. 98+ |
| Red |
2005 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette ReserveRed Rhone Blend more |
6/8/2016 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine: NRThe second time I've had this, and just wow. From the very first sip you know it's wine on another level - the Club Level - and you're already hoping the bottle never ends. Takes the notion of Côtes du Rhône AOC and sets it on its end, and spins it, which is to say one knows nothing anymore, this having re-written the rules, if you will. If the King of Grand Cru Burgundy married the Queen of the southern Rhône and had a child, this is that child. A perfect, golden child. highly recommended |
| Red |
2010 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
11/9/2023 - clayfu wrote: NRI had this wine as a pop and pour this past April and it was pretty shut down. So knowing that information i decnated this puppy a good half day ahead. It needed every single minute of it. As the night went on, each pour, the massive density of the wine came into focus and unfurled. Started to pick up the beautiful spice laden aspects of rayas while keeping the space of its huge body in tack. Heavy intense saturation of fruit that leads to an incredibly sappy and long finish. POtential on this wine is monstrous. |
| Red |
2005 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
1/19/2023 - BradE wrote: NRA Quartet of Rayas: I was an outlier here, as I simply didn't like this vintage. The bottle was in perfect shape, and all three others liked it very much. I just don't seem to appreciate young CDP at all any more (and yes, this was young!). Ranked fourth of four by all four of us (1978,1989,1990,2005). 4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1) |
| Red |
2003 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
6/4/2018 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 pointsFully mature, but will plenty to offer Grenache lovers due to its silky, lushly textured character, pure, ripe and very ripe, red pit fruits, kirsch and earthy traits. There is a good combination of a sunny vintage, with earthy, barnyard accents and peppery red plum jam to top things off. This is not a wine I would age for decades. It is probably close to peak now. |
| Red |
2005 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
6/2/2021 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 94 pointsDecanted and consumed over two hours. After some nice Burgs this did come across as crazy full throttle - cherry liquor like in concentration and although not hot the alcohol did show a slight bit. A totally impressive wine but I enjoyed the CLB Colombiere 14 more which was my WOTN. As Rayas goes I think I preferred the 08 vintage had last year quite a bit more today. Feels like the 05 needs 10 years plus. Today it drank a bit like a very impressive top Pomerol. But just a bit overwhelming and too early to show proper nuance. I can see though that people who want something full on are going to going crazy for this. I needed a chocolate dessert with this. |
| Red |
2001 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
1/26/2019 - Papies wrote: 94 pointsThird time in 6 years and 94 once again. The nose on this wine could launch a thousand ships! Well evolved, meaty, soft red fruits, less of the blood/iron we associate with Rayas and more of a softer one. So expressive and beautiful still. The palate continues but never lives up to it though and we wonder whether this is better now than later. Solid 94 once again |
| Red |
2001 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
1/11/2019 - Cailles wrote: 95 pointsBeautiful mature yet youthful wine marked by its Pinot Noir like structure with lots of elegance and finesse. The complexity and constant transformation throughout the evening were some other highlights. The structure (and fruit) will certainly allow for further ageing but I’m not sure it can get much better from here. |
| Red |
2003 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
8/7/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 96 pointsAvoiding all the trappings of this extreme vintage, the kirsch, black raspberry, spice and garrigue is all over the place. Lush, sensuous, clean and pure, with no sensation of heat of jammy flavors, this is drinking extremely well today. |
| Red |
2004 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
11/6/2021 - Eric wrote: NRSteve Sigmond's 50th Birthday (Minneapolis, MN): Oh boy, Rayas, Rayas, Rayas. This has all of the white pepper, pine needle and searing cherry that I associate with this magical wine. It really is as if Burgundy was somehow transported to Châteauneuf-du-Pape or somehow Grenache were planted in a Burgundy vineyard. There is just nothing else like Rayas, and this was a textbook example. Remarkable. |
| Red |
2001 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
7/14/2018 - Billigan Likes this wine: 98 pointsI take back every mean thing I've ever said about Grenache; this was simply sublime. Divine perfume, cashmere texture. Outrageous price, but somehow worth every penny. From the first whiff, this wine immediately entered my vinous pantheon. Respect the legend. |
| Red |
2005 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
12/14/2021 - Collector1855 wrote: 100 pointsHad this again in a Michelin restaurant in Paris with the 2007 Pignan side by side. Consistent tasting note. This 2005 Rayas is the real deal. A desert island wine in every aspect. Young, give it at least 30 min in the decanter. |
| Red |
2003 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
6/18/2015 - dcwino wrote: 95 pointsTN: Rhone dinner (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Oh boy this is delicious! The nose is almost a mature Burgundy except a hint of Rayas cherry liqueur. Sweet decadent red fruit driven nose, sous bois, strawberry, cherry liqueur, a small hint of 2003 roasted fruit, rose water and leather. Medium concentration, warm and round, sweet slightly dry red fruit driven palate impression, bright acidity and lovely long sweet finish. Great contrast to the 03 Pegau and Clos de Papes, better balance, more mature, less concentrated and less 03ish. |
| Red |
2003 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
1/19/2018 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 94 pointsLast bottle was corked so have been chomping at the bit to try another. This one was classic. Strawberries, spices, garrigue, light red berries. I love how Rayas Grenache is so nuanced and almost pinot-like in its weight. The color is nearly translucent red. Lots of nuance and complexity. A wine like no other just so highly unique. |
| Red |
2007 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape ReserveGrenache more |
2/22/2021 - Mag357 Likes this wine: 98 pointsComplex and beautiful perfumes of red and black fruits with a touch of spices, licorice and anis, the mouth is ultra refined, velvety, with layers of fruits and spices, a seamless and elegant wine yet so rich and so profound, with absolute purity, freshness and grace, and impeccable balance despite the ripeness. Very long, mounting spicy and sweet aftertaste. Absolute stunner, a superlative experience, a bottle that will improve in 10 years. Chapeau Monsieur Reynaud ! |
| Red |
2008 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan ReserveGrenache more |
2/27/2019 - Motz wrote: 96 pointsAn ethereal, inflection-changing offering par excellence. While I understand other tasters' comparisons to Burgundy, on account of its light, slightly cloudy, translucent red color and a sous-bois-like essences, the wine screams sandy Chateauneuf-du-Pape terroir. The bouquet and taste profile also include assorted gourmet mushrooms, white truffle, blood orange preserves, spice, incense (sandalwood), white pepper, mustard seed, coriander, fennel, and unique umami. Complete, robust, seductive, and profoundly satisfying. Beautiful now, likely to hold form for several years, and it might improve. A contender for WOTN. Thank you Bajayngo! 96-97. |
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