The first time I had this wine, about 10 years ago, I remember being impressed by its richness and complexity. It was me, Mrs L and our friend RL having an opulent lunch at a fancy restaurant in Hong Kong called Cepage (long since closed). I don't have lunches like that any more. And I'm no longer on speaking terms with RL. Still, it was a fond memory -- of the wine, at least. Hence the shock when I opened this bottle, a decade on. Stewed fruit, like someone had put this in the microwave. Heavy on the palate, it has no hint of freshness. And there's so much alcohol, it buries any hint of complexity. The room is starting to spin as I type. Perhaps my taste buds have evolved. But I will finish this bottle though, for old times' sake. Please just someone get me a cold towel for my head...
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SLDS Monthly Tasting April 16: Kirsch, violet and earthy perfume. Palate has great poise and complexity alongside the power of the fruit. Lovely earthy savory elements mingle with the fruit. Medium length.
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Minimal soaking, cork showed slight past seepage. Nice, smokey nose. A bit reduced on opening, it sorted itself out and became quite expressive.
Palate was smooth and still quite primary. Mostly blackberry and a large peppery finish. Good length, if a touch of bitterness. Not dissimilar to a northern rhone from Cuilleron and his ilk.
Drink or hold, can go for another decade but uncertain it will improve. 14%abv
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Very nice and caracteristic from Rayas. The nose is smoke, profund, and que he mouth is precise and smooth. A great bottle, very fresh depite the millesime
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been trying to drink these up recently for fear of them going south , last bottle i have was really nice , best of the bunch . most of my bottles had had some small Bret ,and secondary nose.
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blackberry, slight bramble notes, black pepper…in the mouth it has spice and is tight and structured despite it's age, evincing flavours of blackberry underpinned by spice on it's medium length. Entry level but nice
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Un joli nez qui évoque bien la syrah, avec ses parfums de violette, de la viande fumée. La bouche montre une belle texture, très élégante, où l'acidité est relativement basse, fidèle au millésime, sans que le vin ne manque de fraicheur. Un vin dense, dont la qualité est évidemment bien supérieure à son rang. C'est élégant, les tanins sont bien souples, ronds et la finale est d'une belle subtilité. On dirait presque une Côte Rôtie, en un peu plus sucré. Pas le plus grand Fonsalette et peut-être un peu cher, mais c'est excellent. 90 pts
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Gave an hour of air, and boom! Uplifting red fruit aromas, incense, ash, light olive, earth, iron, blood, and white pepper. Amazing mouthfeel with massive tannins still kickin'! Has years of life left. Amazing aromas competed well with the osso bucco cooking in the background. Finish went on and on.
This post goes out to @writemo! After reading your twitter bio on twitter.......to life!
Brought the bottle up from the cellar and after removing the capsule was a bit concerned with the excess residue, which appeared to be caused by heat? Popped the cork and poured and prepared for a Nast whiff. Wrong! A near perfect bottle showing no signs of heat stress based solely on the visual inspection. The nose was filled with herbs du Provence with a black cherry core mixed with fresh earth. Unfortunately, the earth came to mind as I attended the funeral of a friend, Steve Merson who loved the wine industry and passed away from Liver Cancer on Sunday. Steve, no dedications, just memories of life my sweet friend! The wines nose became slightly metallic in the nose with air at the two hour mark, but the flavors remained for a while longer. Drink these babies up soon to enjoy the brightest part of the fruit. EG. WineArchitect
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Another great bottle of the Chateau Rayas sleeper! Dark and dirty, filled with sediment. Out of the cellar, popped and poured....black pepper, cherries and guarigue on the nose and on the palette. I live for the guarigue flavor of CDP but only when expressed as it should be. I had thought this wine may be slipping into it's prime, but the life has been present twice in a row......lucky me! A shout out to Sarah H. EG WineArchitect
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Nice medium ruby color. Better than most of my bottles that seem aged in the mouth. Decantation helped quite a bit to bring out the fruit in the wine. EG
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I noticed some soiling of the cork top and interior of the foil. There were clear signs of possible heat damage. The wine opened fine but quickly oxidized. I threw the rest out. Now I wish I knew where I purchased this wine from!! Darn. EG
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Another great example of this wine! Dark garbet color with near opacity. The first aromas from my glass were of menthol and cocoa. Upon reaching room temperature, the ripe rich scents of a spicy, tobacco scented wine show right through. The earthy garrigue and herbal nose as well as the similar flavors reveal themselves. EG
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Medium ruby red color. I love this cuvee and this was my first 2003. I expected the wine to be a bit over the tip given the vintage and the fact that this is 100% Syrah and I was very pleasently surprised. Not all over ripe, but still plenty ripe with just enough funk to make it a really interesting drink.
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Medium to dark ruby but may be showing signs of slight thinning. First taste right out of the cellar was a wow! The Rhone Syrah flavors have truly become apparent in the mouth and nose with all the Herbs de Provence, rasberry and guarigue flavors all present and accounted for. This wine has come around and is in it's drinking window. The back tannins have tamed quit a bit and are no longer rough. Enjoy them now. EG
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I decided to taste another of my stash. The color is dark garnet with loads of particulate making it very difficult to see through the wine. Decanting was required at this early age with two hours reaching the point of taste. Nice full flavors of herbal Rhone guarige mixed with rasberry Syrah flavors leaning toward black cherry and smoke. The temperature of the wine made a huge difference. Out at 55 degrees with no flavor and at 65 degrees was now drinking with with taste. (1 view)
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Michelle's Favorite - Alluring dark plum, cocoa, tobacco, lavender and mineral notes run through this focused red, with tightly grained tannins carrying the rich finish. There's another blast of fruit and game at the very end, thanks to ripe acidity. Drink now through 2015.
Drank 2 bottles at Primehouse in Chicago on her birthday trip - September 1, 2007.
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9/29/2018 - ilee wrote: 88 Points
The first time I had this wine, about 10 years ago, I remember being impressed by its richness and complexity. It was me, Mrs L and our friend RL having an opulent lunch at a fancy restaurant in Hong Kong called Cepage (long since closed). I don't have lunches like that any more. And I'm no longer on speaking terms with RL. Still, it was a fond memory -- of the wine, at least. Hence the shock when I opened this bottle, a decade on. Stewed fruit, like someone had put this in the microwave. Heavy on the palate, it has no hint of freshness. And there's so much alcohol, it buries any hint of complexity. The room is starting to spin as I type. Perhaps my taste buds have evolved. But I will finish this bottle though, for old times' sake. Please just someone get me a cold towel for my head...
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9/9/2017 - beatles wrote:
PB 50 Rayas Extravarganza (PB's house, Charlottenlund): Heated – somewhat; I am not big fan, though the stuffing is here, not bad, but 2003 speaks too loudly IMHO. NR.
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4/13/2016 - CamWheeler wrote: 90 Points
SLDS Monthly Tasting April 16: Kirsch, violet and earthy perfume. Palate has great poise and complexity alongside the power of the fruit. Lovely earthy savory elements mingle with the fruit. Medium length.
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6/9/2015 - Tony Molester wrote:
Minimal soaking, cork showed slight past seepage.
Nice, smokey nose. A bit reduced on opening, it sorted itself out and became quite expressive.
Palate was smooth and still quite primary. Mostly blackberry and a large peppery finish. Good length, if a touch of bitterness. Not dissimilar to a northern rhone from Cuilleron and his ilk.
Drink or hold, can go for another decade but uncertain it will improve.
14%abv
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1/14/2015 - TheFrog Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice and caracteristic from Rayas. The nose is smoke, profund, and que he mouth is precise and smooth.
A great bottle, very fresh depite the millesime
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10/17/2014 - jsebiri wrote:
been trying to drink these up recently for fear of them going south , last bottle i have was really nice , best of the bunch . most of my bottles had had some small Bret ,and secondary nose.
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4/13/2014 - Lord Rayas wrote: 90 Points
upfront and simple but very pleasurable. washed down nicely with BBQ meats.
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3/22/2014 - chatters wrote:
blackberry, slight bramble notes, black pepper…in the mouth it has spice and is tight and structured despite it's age, evincing flavours of blackberry underpinned by spice on it's medium length. Entry level but nice
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8/28/2013 - d'Artagnan wrote: 90 Points
Un joli nez qui évoque bien la syrah, avec ses parfums de violette, de la viande fumée.
La bouche montre une belle texture, très élégante, où l'acidité est relativement basse, fidèle au millésime, sans que le vin ne manque de fraicheur. Un vin dense, dont la qualité est évidemment bien supérieure à son rang. C'est élégant, les tanins sont bien souples, ronds et la finale est d'une belle subtilité. On dirait presque une Côte Rôtie, en un peu plus sucré. Pas le plus grand Fonsalette et peut-être un peu cher, mais c'est excellent. 90 pts
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5/19/2013 - Vinsant wrote:
Gave an hour of air, and boom! Uplifting red fruit aromas, incense, ash, light olive, earth, iron, blood, and white pepper. Amazing mouthfeel with massive tannins still kickin'! Has years of life left. Amazing aromas competed well with the osso bucco cooking in the background. Finish went on and on.
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3/2/2011 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 91 Points
This post goes out to @writemo! After reading your twitter bio on twitter.......to life!
Brought the bottle up from the cellar and after removing the capsule was a bit concerned with the excess residue, which appeared to be caused by heat? Popped the cork and poured and prepared for a Nast whiff. Wrong! A near perfect bottle showing no signs of heat stress based solely on the visual inspection. The nose was filled with herbs du Provence with a black cherry core mixed with fresh earth. Unfortunately, the earth came to mind as I attended the funeral of a friend, Steve Merson who loved the wine industry and passed away from Liver Cancer on Sunday. Steve, no dedications, just memories of life my sweet friend! The wines nose became slightly metallic in the nose with air at the two hour mark, but the flavors remained for a while longer. Drink these babies up soon to enjoy the brightest part of the fruit. EG. WineArchitect
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12/15/2010 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 91 Points
Another great bottle of the Chateau Rayas sleeper! Dark and dirty, filled with sediment. Out of the cellar, popped and poured....black pepper, cherries and guarigue on the nose and on the palette. I live for the guarigue flavor of CDP but only when expressed as it should be. I had thought this wine may be slipping into it's prime, but the life has been present twice in a row......lucky me! A shout out to Sarah H. EG WineArchitect
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8/18/2010 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice medium ruby color. Better than most of my bottles that seem aged in the mouth. Decantation helped quite a bit to bring out the fruit in the wine. EG
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7/11/2010 - WineArchitect wrote: flawed
I noticed some soiling of the cork top and interior of the foil. There were clear signs of possible heat damage. The wine opened fine but quickly oxidized. I threw the rest out. Now I wish I knew where I purchased this wine from!! Darn. EG
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5/29/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with David/TY, Alex/Vivien, Chris/Jennifer (富聲魚翅海鮮酒家): Lovely sweet nose of melted licorice and wild berries. Simple and pleasant pop-and-pour wine.
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3/9/2010 - WineArchitect wrote: 91 Points
Another great example of this wine! Dark garbet color with near opacity. The first aromas from my glass were of menthol and cocoa. Upon reaching room temperature, the ripe rich scents of a spicy, tobacco scented wine show right through. The earthy garrigue and herbal nose as well as the similar flavors reveal themselves. EG
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12/17/2009 - Johann Von Mastiff wrote: 93 Points
Medium ruby red color. I love this cuvee and this was my first 2003. I expected the wine to be a bit over the tip given the vintage and the fact that this is 100% Syrah and I was very pleasently surprised. Not all over ripe, but still plenty ripe with just enough funk to make it a really interesting drink.
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9/14/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 91 Points
Medium to dark ruby but may be showing signs of slight thinning. First taste right out of the cellar was a wow! The Rhone Syrah flavors have truly become apparent in the mouth and nose with all the Herbs de Provence, rasberry and guarigue flavors all present and accounted for. This wine has come around and is in it's drinking window. The back tannins have tamed quit a bit and are no longer rough. Enjoy them now. EG
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1/12/2009 - WineArchitect wrote: 90 Points
I decided to taste another of my stash. The color is dark garnet with loads of particulate making it very difficult to see through the wine. Decanting was required at this early age with two hours reaching the point of taste. Nice full flavors of herbal Rhone guarige mixed with rasberry Syrah flavors leaning toward black cherry and smoke. The temperature of the wine made a huge difference. Out at 55 degrees with no flavor and at 65 degrees was now drinking with with taste. (1 view)
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12/19/2007 - rdearing wrote: 90 Points
Michelle's Favorite - Alluring dark plum, cocoa, tobacco, lavender and mineral notes run through this focused red, with tightly grained tannins carrying the rich finish. There's another blast of fruit and game at the very end, thanks to ripe acidity. Drink now through 2015.
Drank 2 bottles at Primehouse in Chicago on her birthday trip - September 1, 2007.
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