February 3, 2024 - This particular bottle had good development - after some gentle swirling, the strawberries had started integrating well with the spice and smoke. The deep, impactful palate glides effortlessly down the throat on a sheet of silky tannins.
Very enjoyable drink.
March 13, 2023 - Elastic.
Pure, airy, beautiful and fragrant strawberries and some rose scents. The tannins are beautifully resolved and this comes across as almost sweet. Light color. Not much in the way of tertiary notes.
Hard to believe this is 17 years old.
November 28, 2022 - Cherry creme brûlée with some sandalwood notes.
May 23, 2022 - Love the cherry, creme brulee thing here. Another good showing, but outclassed tonight by the 2001 Beaucastel CdP.
February 5, 2022 - Opened 24 hours and slow-ox in bottle prior to serving. Signature rayas strawberries notes that I love, very pronounced on nose. Delicious palate and paired very well with steak. Amazing right now just starting its drinking window. I'm sure it will still develop nicely after 5+ years. 95+
December 15, 2021 - A perfect bottle of this, singing fromt the get-go. Colour is very light. Tell-tale Reynaud in style,very open, aromatic nose, creamy, light, elegant, sweet Grenache lingers on with strawberries galore - and one keeps asking for more.
#Xmaslunch Chez Moi#PB
December 12, 2021 - A little over 5 years since my last btl. Not quite the flamboyant perfumed, Rayas-like nose that I remember this as having, but a more elegant refined version: sandalwood, dried mint leaf, rasperry, incense. On the palate: very good acidity, bitter medicinal herbs, good density, black cherry, very soft tannin on the finish. Wow, definitely mature, but still stunning.
July 24, 2021 - I last drank the 2006 Château des Tours Vacqueyras in 2013, so I was interested to try it again. Wafting from the glass with classic Reynaud aromas of strawberries macerated in kirsch, orange rind, exotic spices and rose hip, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a perfumed core of fruit and powdery, delicately mordant tannins that assert themselves on the finish. Showing a touch hot out of the gates, it comes together beautifully if opened the day before service. If anything, it tastes younger than it did eight years ago!
April 30, 2021 - This bottle wasn't as good as the previous ones. It had a funky nose to it that required a lot of air and this bottle just didn't show as well as I'd hoped. It tasted better than it smelled. Lovely cherry grenache fruit provencal herbs, etc. I hope the next bottle is better.
September 22, 2020 - Another terrific bottle. This had a bit more verve than the 2001.