January 19, 2024 - not blind
The alcohol is not really noticeable and well integrated. Nice extract sweetness without any stewed fruits. Close to his peak. 96
January 18, 2024 - not blind
Not reached his peak. Not alcoholic, very balanced, nice dark berries and extract sweetness. 96
May 3, 2023 - Dégustation de six Rayas
1996
Wow, l'élégance même ! Petits fruits rouge, une bouche hyper rafiné et délicate, le tannin est d'une finesse remarquable, du velour en bouche ! Grand vin
May 2, 2023 - Verticale de Rayas. Un nez complexe, aromatique, tabac, herbes avec de l’air. Bouche tellement soyeuse et fine, encore du fruit, finale un brin plus sèche mais longue et élégante. Mon No 3 sur 6. 94-95 pts
Tasting of 6 Rayas vintage. Gorgeous complex nose, layers of aromas, tobacco, herbs too and lots or fruit of course that we still find on the palate after 27 years, the palate is silky smooth yet with dept, a touch of dryness on the long finish but more charming than disturbing. No 3 out of 6.
April 29, 2023 - 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, deep, youthful ruby-garnet color.
Dense, warm, spicy nose with some fine, ripe fruit and hints of barn.
On the palate the same sweet/sour touch of the Fonsalette, just not that extreme. Some green, harsh notes, rather cool impression. Very fine tannin, great texture, seems still very youthful and not yet fully developed. Long, rather elegant finish. 92-93+
November 24, 2021 - Very solid Rayas, still very fresh with lots of primary fruit, starting to show nice complexity but still vibrant and youthful.
April 4, 2021 - Raspberries and some tobacco. Mature red fruit. Very elegant with a silky texture. Didn’t think this bottle was over the hill in any way. Saying that, it probably does not have that many years left. Seems like an undervalued vintaged?
February 18, 2021 - Dull brownish garnet. Sliced raspberries with vanillin on the nose. Slightly tart, delicious raspberries with vanillin on the attack. A little dusty, with red and purple fruit skin in the finish. Still drinking young, remarkably.
June 28, 2020 - LFC celebration dinner! Light red, funky at start, blows off, lighter style Rayas, fully mature, sweet Grenache in the mouth, elegant, never had a 96, after 2.5 hours really beautiful nose of sweet fruits, stunning nose! Really needed that 2-3 hours to strut its stuff, drank alongside with the 05
February 2, 2020 - At Sumi Restaurant, Noosa Junction. This wine was served after decanting 3 hours before replacing in the bottle and serving after a further 3 hours. It apparently was quite rustic on the palate on opening but when served it was in great shape. The colour was a light cherry red with some edge browning and the nose was a lifted compote of red cherries, wild strawberry, touches of raspberry and as it evolved autumn herbs and lavender were evident. The palate was pure with lovely fruit characters reflecting the nose with a ball of soft fruits balanced by the earth and herbal touches leading into a fine long finish. This a delicious mature CNdP of great balance and intensity without weight.