A bunch of Rayas @ Peter's

• 2007 Château des Tours Côtes du Rhône Réserve Blanc 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Perhaps I am overrating this because it was the first wine of the tasting and I needed a drink after a long drive, but I really thought this was fantastic. Nice sappiness to it with a citric and almond paste note. Crisp and precise on the longer than expected finish. Lovely stuff.

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• 2003 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Blanc Château de Fonsalette Reserve 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Good palate presence, with marzipan, peaches and honey; some stoney nuances. The acids are solid, given the vintage. Still drinking well.

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• 2004 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Réserve 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  The best white wine of the tasting thus far. Racy, elegant and a hint of nuttiness. Really clings to the palate. Lovely combination of sappy fruit and energetic acidity. Very fine wine.

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• 2005 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Réserve 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Another wonderful Rayas. As good as the 2004, but in a different way. Fatter, richer and perhaps more layered. Excellent balance and length here. Marzipan, nut oil, and floral hints. Tough to spit out.

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• 2006 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Réserve 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  The 2004 was good, the 2005 was richer, this one dials it up a little more, but perhaps to the point of being too much of a good thing. Flamboyant, oily and generous. A fun cocktail wine but lacks the elegance of the 2004/2005.

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• 2007 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan Reserve 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  What a great way to start the red wines with. A bit of sulfur initially, but this blew off. Cranberry, raspberry and other high toned red fruits. Subtle, stoney and dusty. A hint of pepper. Really dances on the palate with a regal "pinot-like" character.

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• 2007 Château des Tours Côtes du Rhône Reserve 91 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  A very nice wine. Outclassed by its peers in this tasting, but excellent nonetheless. The issues that brought it down a bit were the ripeness and the liquor-like heat...not to the point of being off-putting, but noticeable. I am probably nit-picking, this was quite enjoyable.

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• 2006 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan Reserve 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Wow... this is such a silky, svelte and just plain "pretty" wine. Velvety cherry, white flowers and just a tiny dusty mineral hint. This is so pillowy and yet has superb precision. More than one person kept saying "Burgundian" and I have to agree.

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• 2004 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  No rating here as i don't know how to rate this wine, being so shut down and ungiving. I would give this more time to hopefully develop some interesting aromatics.

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• 2003 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  A bit more "savage" than its peers at this tasting. Meaty, licorice, barnyard and leather. Lots going on here but not as refined as I would have liked. Again, a fine wine by itself, but suffering by comparison.

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• 2001 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  This 2001 shows the same type of character I find in 2001 Burgundies (even though this is a Rhone wine)... a juicy, lifted, high tone precision. Not a lot of depth, but lively and energetic.

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• 2000 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Yeah, sometimes you just have to sit back, relax and smile when you taste wine this good. Thanks Asher! This had a Silky texture but not soft... really reverberates on the palate. Pinpoint balance, a layered palate and wonderful persistence. Another wine that was tough to spit out.

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• 1994 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve 95 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  I must admit I have limited experience with 1994 Rhones, but this was a knockout. Flamboyant nose, gregarious palate, complex and long. Lovely red fruits, dusted with spice and floral notes. This oozes refinement. An educational experience and a truly contemplative wine.

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• 1996 Château Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Reserve 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Côtes du Rhône

  Still quite primary and not as complex as its peers. Not much notes here, as I focused more on the 1995 and 1994, but this was enjoyable in its own right.... just not compelling or deep.

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• 1999 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan Reserve 92 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  A different expression of Rayas. Darker... black fruits, black licorice, black pepper. Savage, yet good precision. Getting late in the night and I think I stopped taking notes here, but I did enjoy this wine quite a bit.

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So many fantastic wines, thank you peter for your generous hospitality. I stopped taking notes with the 1999 Pignan, but there was also the 2005 Rayas, the 1996 Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Cuvée Syrah and the 1997 Rayas Côtes du Rhône Château de Fonsalette Cuvée Syrah. An embarassment of riches.