65% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Cinsault; Organic. Whole cluster and native yeasts. Based on previous descriptions, 90% of it is aged in concrete vats and 10% in used 600 liter oak for 18 months. The color shows some evolution on the edges and looks unfiltered. The nose is really meaty and bloody with smoky herbs and wood. Dark fruit. The palate is mostly dark fruit too with a touch of red fruit and acidity at the end. Some spice. Rich. Velvety. Medium plus bodied. A little hot at 14.5% alcohol in a minty sort of way. Right on the edge of being too ripe. Sort of Amarone-like.
https://winediplomats.com/
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Really good from the go - but decanting brings up more freshness, body and that great deep spicy character. Sweetish strawberries and spices on the palate, together with raspberry leaves, black and wu-long tea notes. Sweetish finish, bit hot (alcohol), but keeping and drinking it at a fresher temperature bit helps. Anyway, great balance. Drink or keep.
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P&p; seems pretty ready to go. Translucent hue, brownish around the edges, looking positively Burgundian. Smells good, along the lines of strawberry preserves, cassis, berry brambles, garrigue, spice, and ashes, with alcohol poking through a bit but it works; plenty of house style. Similar flavors, mainly strawberry and bittersweet sappy garrigue, with good acidity, and slightly grippy well integrated tannins. Comes across as somewhat alcoholic, but overall it delivers; tasty wine with loads of character.
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Annual wine trip; Bourgogne & Champage with Bas; 6/14/2023-6/18/2023 (France): [Restaurant purchase] At Chablis Wine Not in Chablis. One of those wines that were on the list to try for a while, but I was underwhelmed by its performance. Intensity medium (+). Blackberry, blackcurrant, sweet cherry, liquorice, bacon, cinnamon. Acidity medium(+). Tannins medium. Finish medium. The finish has a sweet experience to it. Goes very nice with meat. Easy drinker. Alcohol shows
[Edit] On day 2 better, more balanced, balsamic, stony minerality, rosehip. Less bacon notes
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Reynaud Tasting (Freiheit Vinothek, Ulm, Germany): Glass: Spiegelau Universal All wines tasted blind/blind, opened a few hours before and decanted right before the tasting. Clear, medium garnet color. Nose with fine red fruit, sweet Grenache. On the palate round, sweet fruit, high alcohol, medium- acidity, some bitter notes, strawberries, spices. Medium length. Potential? I don't know. 87-88
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This would be the best CDR from des tours I ve had. Literally opened and this was fresh concentrated and surprisingly approachable. It was a mouthful of strawberries and the wine lasted from opening at lunch time and drank through dinner getting better and better.. with more cellaring I have no doubts this will get even better. This is no longer just the entry level option.
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This bottle wasn’t served in proper wine glasses and didn’t have time to breathe, but still managed to stand up to the spicy kebabs, lamb chops and chicken curry. High toned Rayas-like red fruit and grassy hay secondary notes *albeit* rougher tannins and a more clipped finish than the big brother Rayas - felt like a very young Fonsalette. After an hour or so the intensity built up even more and the finish became longer and creamier. Excellent QPR as a daily drinker. Too bad the big brother Rayas and even Pignan and Fonsalette are at silly prices now…
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Quite a pretty little number and comes out singing from the bottle even at this younge age. Very fresh but in no way sharp or difficult, soft edge to it, soft Burgundian in a way but very much a Rhône valley red. Very solid. 92
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Pronounced nose intensity with notes of dried cranberry, cooked red fruits, bubble gum. Medium+ acidity, medium tannin. Still youthful but drinking beautifully.
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Served as a pre-dinner drink out side, this was really shining. Fat, juicy, yet precise, rich fruit, good spice and the creamy texture that is Des Tours. Still young, but approachable. Nicely prized from the list. #Møntergade#Fodbold&Politik
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Agree with comments below - much more open and accessible than 2016 - all Rayas wonderfullness here: whole array of forrest berries, overripe sweetish fruit, rosehip, dried roses, oriental spices, orange rind, cedar and litchies, pepper and strawberries.. and of course - wulong tea - magical scent that you can't just stop smelling. Ripeness and freshness, again, in a perfect balance. Drink or hold. I can even justify and understand it secondary market price..
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Delicious. Needed 20 minutes to open and calm down (a bit of an intense ripe raisin note at first) but then it coheres and gets quite elegant for its level. Delicious with a filet of beouf. Even better when it costs 50 euros at a bistro rather than whatever absurd price the US market demands.
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2017 is a wonderful vintage for the Côtes du Rhône from Chateau des Tours (Rayas). Both on the nose and on the palate, it outshines other vintages in terms of freshness and liveliness. Transparent, light to medium ruby red. The nose shows a mixture of red berry fruits, strawberries, white pepper, some garrique and just that unique barnyard smell (horses and sheep) that characterises all "des Tours" wines. The skillful thing about it is that this scent is an intrinsic, balanced component and does not interfere, as is the case when this aroma comes from Brettanomyces. On the tongue, the wine is of medium weight and body; moderate, quite fine tannin; excellent is the acidity, which gives the wine a great freshness and stimulates the drinking flow enormously. Aromatically, this is reminiscent of red fruits/fruit tea (wild strawberries/sour cherries) with hints of mallow, rosehip, Provençal herbs, barnearth and spices, the latter bringing a gossamer sweetness. Medium length. Super tasty now, and probably will be for the next 10-15 years. The 2017 is a perfectly accomplished vintage with the typical Rayas DNA.
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Light-handed wine making. It is pale ruby with garnet rim. It opened up immediately with highly seductive nose of flower bouquet, bright, fresh mixed red fruits, enticing animal musky nuances, white pepper, hint of garrigue, privencal herbs... Lovely smell.
On palate, it is on a lighter side with mid weight, fresh acidity, juicy, silky tannins. fresh attack, very silky tannins. Good mid palate focus with flavours of crushed flowers, red currant, sour cherry, and lots of appetising spices and herbs melting out thru the lifting clean finish.
This is undoubtedly a carefully crafted Rhone red that in every way elegant and seductive. And yes I call this one Rayas style. Approachable already.
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This is somewhat richer than the bottle I drank with Niels at Les Florets. Opens up with rum-raisin notes and ripe cherry fruit. Ripe cherry fruit, kirsch liquor on the palate. Somewhat heady. I know des Tours can taste like this in warm vintages, so this is probably unlikely to be an off bottle even if the one I had in France was very different. May need time to settle down, but based on this example I’m not sure this will ever be a great wine.
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Tell tale Reynaud - and immense concentration. Smooth, silky, sweet, spicy with a fine structure and length, this has no issues with heat or otherwise. Super-mature Grenache, yet a cool presence. Wait for it. #LesFlorets#PB
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Amazing mix of finess and power … deep aromatic nose of cherries, wild strawberries and spices ( cinammon) with some earthiness…quite some kirsch cherries in the palate.. excellent acidity level that makes the wine fresh while being conxentrated in aromas, tannins are very smooth.. wine is very long .. remarquable wine!
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2/27/2024 - Wine Diplomats Likes this wine: 92 Points
65% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Cinsault; Organic. Whole cluster and native yeasts. Based on previous descriptions, 90% of it is aged in concrete vats and 10% in used 600 liter oak for 18 months. The color shows some evolution on the edges and looks unfiltered. The nose is really meaty and bloody with smoky herbs and wood. Dark fruit. The palate is mostly dark fruit too with a touch of red fruit and acidity at the end. Some spice. Rich. Velvety. Medium plus bodied. A little hot at 14.5% alcohol in a minty sort of way. Right on the edge of being too ripe. Sort of Amarone-like.
https://winediplomats.com/
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2/6/2024 - Povilas wrote: 93 Points
Really good from the go - but decanting brings up more freshness, body and that great deep spicy character. Sweetish strawberries and spices on the palate, together with raspberry leaves, black and wu-long tea notes. Sweetish finish, bit hot (alcohol), but keeping and drinking it at a fresher temperature bit helps. Anyway, great balance. Drink or keep.
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9/24/2023 - Beerzebub Likes this wine:
P&p; seems pretty ready to go. Translucent hue, brownish around the edges, looking positively Burgundian. Smells good, along the lines of strawberry preserves, cassis, berry brambles, garrigue, spice, and ashes, with alcohol poking through a bit but it works; plenty of house style. Similar flavors, mainly strawberry and bittersweet sappy garrigue, with good acidity, and slightly grippy well integrated tannins. Comes across as somewhat alcoholic, but overall it delivers; tasty wine with loads of character.
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6/16/2023 - bjbu Likes this wine: 90 Points
Burgundy trip 2023; 6/14/2023-6/18/2023: Intensity medium (+). Blackberry, blackcurrant, rosehip, sweet cherry, liquorice, bacon, cinnamon. Acidity medium(+). Tannins medium. Finish medium. The finish has a sweet experience to it. Goes very nice with grilled meat. Easy drinker.
(Chablis Wine Not, Chablis)
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6/15/2023 - ThijsV wrote: 90 Points
Annual wine trip; Bourgogne & Champage with Bas; 6/14/2023-6/18/2023 (France): [Restaurant purchase] At Chablis Wine Not in Chablis. One of those wines that were on the list to try for a while, but I was underwhelmed by its performance. Intensity medium (+). Blackberry, blackcurrant, sweet cherry, liquorice, bacon, cinnamon. Acidity medium(+). Tannins medium. Finish medium. The finish has a sweet experience to it. Goes very nice with meat. Easy drinker. Alcohol shows
[Edit] On day 2 better, more balanced, balsamic, stony minerality, rosehip. Less bacon notes
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4/29/2023 - NoTrollingerPlease wrote: 87 Points
Reynaud Tasting (Freiheit Vinothek, Ulm, Germany): Glass: Spiegelau Universal
All wines tasted blind/blind, opened a few hours before and decanted right before the tasting.
Clear, medium garnet color. Nose with fine red fruit, sweet Grenache.
On the palate round, sweet fruit, high alcohol, medium- acidity, some bitter notes, strawberries, spices. Medium length. Potential? I don't know. 87-88
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4/5/2023 - LB88 wrote: 93 Points
This would be the best CDR from des tours I ve had. Literally opened and this was fresh concentrated and surprisingly approachable. It was a mouthful of strawberries and the wine lasted from opening at lunch time and drank through dinner getting better and better.. with more cellaring I have no doubts this will get even better. This is no longer just the entry level option.
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2/16/2023 - levicn wrote: 90 Points
醒酒一个半小时，淡宝石红色，闻香可以用花香四溢来形容，花香和草莓红果以外还有甜香料混合着草药的味道。入口酸度中等，单宁很细，几乎感觉不到，酒体轻盈，红果混合着树丛的植物气息，后段植物微苦。很有辨识度的风格，入口比闻香稍微简单了些，至始至终的一些草药和植物气息影响了香气的高级感，让它从凡间回到人间，差一点就一飞冲天了，除此之外，它的表现还是很出色的，特别是知道产区以后，足够让人眼前一亮。
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1/28/2023 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 92 Points
This bottle wasn’t served in proper wine glasses and didn’t have time to breathe, but still managed to stand up to the spicy kebabs, lamb chops and chicken curry. High toned Rayas-like red fruit and grassy hay secondary notes *albeit* rougher tannins and a more clipped finish than the big brother Rayas - felt like a very young Fonsalette. After an hour or so the intensity built up even more and the finish became longer and creamier. Excellent QPR as a daily drinker. Too bad the big brother Rayas and even Pignan and Fonsalette are at silly prices now…
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11/12/2022 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
Quite a pretty little number and comes out singing from the bottle even at this younge age. Very fresh but in no way sharp or difficult, soft edge to it, soft Burgundian in a way but very much a Rhône valley red. Very solid. 92
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10/27/2022 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of dried cranberry, cooked red fruits, bubble gum. Medium+ acidity, medium tannin. Still youthful but drinking beautifully.
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8/29/2022 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Served as a pre-dinner drink out side, this was really shining. Fat, juicy, yet precise, rich fruit, good spice and the creamy texture that is Des Tours. Still young, but approachable. Nicely prized from the list.
#Møntergade#Fodbold&Politik
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7/17/2022 - Povilas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Agree with comments below - much more open and accessible than 2016 - all Rayas wonderfullness here: whole array of forrest berries, overripe sweetish fruit, rosehip, dried roses, oriental spices, orange rind, cedar and litchies, pepper and strawberries.. and of course - wulong tea - magical scent that you can't just stop smelling. Ripeness and freshness, again, in a perfect balance. Drink or hold. I can even justify and understand it secondary market price..
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7/8/2022 - LW31 Likes this wine:
Delicious. Needed 20 minutes to open and calm down (a bit of an intense ripe raisin note at first) but then it coheres and gets quite elegant for its level. Delicious with a filet of beouf. Even better when it costs 50 euros at a bistro rather than whatever absurd price the US market demands.
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5/29/2022 - MQuentel@web.de Likes this wine: 93 Points
2017 is a wonderful vintage for the Côtes du Rhône from Chateau des Tours (Rayas). Both on the nose and on the palate, it outshines other vintages in terms of freshness and liveliness. Transparent, light to medium ruby red. The nose shows a mixture of red berry fruits, strawberries, white pepper, some garrique and just that unique barnyard smell (horses and sheep) that characterises all "des Tours" wines. The skillful thing about it is that this scent is an intrinsic, balanced component and does not interfere, as is the case when this aroma comes from Brettanomyces. On the tongue, the wine is of medium weight and body; moderate, quite fine tannin; excellent is the acidity, which gives the wine a great freshness and stimulates the drinking flow enormously. Aromatically, this is reminiscent of red fruits/fruit tea (wild strawberries/sour cherries) with hints of mallow, rosehip, Provençal herbs, barnearth and spices, the latter bringing a gossamer sweetness. Medium length. Super tasty now, and probably will be for the next 10-15 years. The 2017 is a perfectly accomplished vintage with the typical Rayas DNA.
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1/14/2022 - wineappellation Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light-handed wine making. It is pale ruby with garnet rim. It opened up immediately with highly seductive nose of flower bouquet, bright, fresh mixed red fruits, enticing animal musky nuances, white pepper, hint of garrigue, privencal herbs... Lovely smell.
On palate, it is on a lighter side with mid weight, fresh acidity, juicy, silky tannins. fresh attack, very silky tannins. Good mid palate focus with flavours of crushed flowers, red currant, sour cherry, and lots of appetising spices and herbs melting out thru the lifting clean finish.
This is undoubtedly a carefully crafted Rhone red that in every way elegant and seductive. And yes I call this one Rayas style. Approachable already.
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12/10/2021 - pbaek wrote:
This is somewhat richer than the bottle I drank with Niels at Les Florets. Opens up with rum-raisin notes and ripe cherry fruit. Ripe cherry fruit, kirsch liquor on the palate. Somewhat heady. I know des Tours can taste like this in warm vintages, so this is probably unlikely to be an off bottle even if the one I had in France was very different. May need time to settle down, but based on this example I’m not sure this will ever be a great wine.
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11/9/2021 - beatles wrote: 93 Points
Tell tale Reynaud - and immense concentration. Smooth, silky, sweet, spicy with a fine structure and length, this has no issues with heat or otherwise. Super-mature Grenache, yet a cool presence. Wait for it.
#LesFlorets#PB
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10/30/2021 - Bertdecab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Amazing mix of finess and power … deep aromatic nose of cherries, wild strawberries and spices ( cinammon) with some earthiness…quite some kirsch cherries in the palate.. excellent acidity level that makes the wine fresh while being conxentrated in aromas, tannins are very smooth.. wine is very long .. remarquable wine!
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