Opulent, and hedonistic in style, the wine is all about hitting your pleasure buttons with waves of peppery, black cherries, kirsch, garrigue, black plums, and blackberries. The creamy, sensuous finish builds as it lingers. Drink from 2024-2040.
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Liked it a bit more than last time. Less jammy and ripe, and hopefully it will shed all the baby fat with age. Only decanted for an hour but it probably needs much longer to drink today. If you only have one bottle, give it another 8-10 years before considering to open it.
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Perhaps not a perfect bottle, the nose showed primarily sous bois. Dark berries on the palate with mature complexity, a hint of brett which I suspect muted the fruits somewhat. Classy structure, though.
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Internationale du Gout - Vertical series #1: Rayas dinner with Morrocan fusion food; 1/19/2024-1/20/2024 (Singapore): Matched against the '05. I wanted to dislike this wine based on confirmation bias around the 07 CdP vintage which has unfortunately produced overly alcoholic and pruney wines at most addresses. Surprise! While the fruit profile was leaning noticeably riper with more plum and liquorice this still showcased a consistent Rayas package in terms of aromatics and overall integration. In context of the vintage and the likes of Clos des Papes, Charvin, Beaucastel, Pegau, Janasse etc... this a ballerina. If the fruit does not grow more stewed over time I see this has a chance of closing the gap with the '05 and '06.
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10 hour decant really just barely did the trick here. The second half of the bottle was quite brilliant as the wine started to flesh out. Manuka honey, wilted roses, candied prunes, ripe strawberries, burnt incense, liquorice, medicinal herbs. Really spicy and big in the mouth. This is hotter, darker and more medicinal against the 2008; certainly does not score points for elegance on the Rayas scale. But nonetheless it’s darn attractive and immensely complex and with time, might just take off to the next level.
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We played around with this bottle. It was first slow-oxed for 3 hours before we poured a small bit to try. We then decided to decant 1/3 of the bottle and enjoy that first, before returning to see how the rest of the wine in the bottle was doing.
Anyway, this was absolutely incredible. Denser and darker than any other Rayas that I've had, but with air it didn't seem clunky or poorly integrated. Red fruit was bursting out of the glass, alongside its signature herbaceousness. The alcohol gave a hint of welcome spice that was present but not unpleasant. Everything was so powerful: a true example of an iron fist inside a velvet glove.
This was undisputed WOTD for everyone. Even small pours shared with newcomers joining hours later kept outclassing other wines that were being opened as the day went on.
It blows my mind that this is likely to continue improving with a bit more age, because it's already so good now with enough air. However, if you really do have the itch to try this, go ahead - just give it the patience it deserves, both in the breathing and the drinking over time.
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In a flight of 07, 08 & 10 Rayas reserve, this stood out as the darkest, inkiest, richest, deepest, most extracted wine, full of vintage characteristic. Was it the best of the flight, or the night? No. These highly rich wines no longer do it for me, though I'm sure some will love it (in time). For me the '10 was the king of the hill, even if it needs even more time. It's just the more complete wine.
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i’ve much maligned this wine due to how ripe and candied it was on release and the following years. I just had one at the end of 2022 and it was so candied and alcoholic i didn’t even want to drink it. As a joke - when #noigmatt mentioned this bottle for the dinner, i said you should open it the day before. He popped it at 7pm the night before, poured off a glass and gave it to the morning. Then in the morning decanted it until dinner time.
It needed all that air. It still gave off a lot of the ripe candied sweet fruit but the alcohol felt more integrated. The acidity felt more pronounced to taper down the ripeness. Incredibly sappy and red fruit driven, started to show some herbaceousness on the finish that reminded me a bit of yellow Chartreuse. Each pour the wine focused in a bit more. I’d keep my hands off these, see where they develop further with age, based on the amount of air needed, it probably needs another decade to tone down. Or it can be like the 2005 that’s suddenly evolved quickly and shed a lot of it’s candied fruit and become a pretty delicious wine.
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Reynaud wine tasting, Pure Spirits (Gallina restaurant): Pure Grenache, the only plot with sand in Châteaunef du Pape, the bottle was opened and left uncorked for 24 hours -/- The wine shows a rather elegant profile but a touch closed still, there fruit is on the overripe spectrum, austere, not giving away much, candied red fruit Palate again is very austere, the fruit is way in the back, very linear in a way, currant, cherry, fresh ripe but also dried and slightly spiced notes, elegant, tensity, nerve, feels closed and very youthful compared to the previous wines, needs time to come together, med finish
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This possibly had storage issues Ripe cherry kirsch. Of the three Rayas we’ve been fortunate to drink on this trip this is the ripest with a hint of oxidation that detracted from the experience versus the 2006 we enjoyed earlier. The signature green element is present
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Le nez est similaire au 2006 mais un peu plus profond par son fruit mure et sa légère chaleur. En bouche, fraises des champs, leger tannin en avant plan avec un peu de chauffe en finale amené par un alcool subtillement présente. Pas le Rayas le plus raffiné mais ca reste un excellent vin !
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Verticale de Rayas, mon no 5 sur 6. Beau nez de fruits rouges et d’épices, le plus riche avec un côté un peu plus tannique, touche alccoleuse, le plus “Chateauneuf” de la verticale, très bon toutefois.
5 out of 6 but still a very good bottle. Richer and slightly more tannic with a touch of heat on the finish.
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Opened at 3pm for dinner, decanted at the restaurant. More ready and open than last drank but was still not fully integrated. A little bit of VA. I think could do with more cellaring to be perfect
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My last experience of this wine was bad: I thought it was massively over-ripe and just awful. I resolved to sell what I had. Since then many people have told me that to appreciate Rayas properly you have to give it tons of air. So this evening I’m opening a bottle, I will double decant it, leave it for 24 hours and see what happens. A taste from the bottle confirms my previous experience: smells like port, raisiny fruit on the palate. Alcoholic. Just awful. The next day this is still pretty stewy and alcoholic on the nose but some fresh herbal notes have emerged. With further air fresh coffee. On the palate it is much better: still ripe but with a bit more freshness and classic CNDP character. It’s rounded out a lot, very dense and sweet black-fruit, glycerin. A nice backbone of acidity. This is certainly much better after 24 hours of air but it remains a bit of a mystery. It’s complex and rich but just quite disjointed.
the mighty 2007 Rayas, 100 points Parker. 50 points Fu. I legitimately do not understand what people are tasting when I read the CT notes on this wine. I’ve had this multiple times in its life and each time I come to the same conclusion. The wine is a candied, ripe, alcoholic. When people say “oh it’s new world” but in that type of tone where saying New World is the equivalent of telling someone they are in the lower 10% of the class, this is that level of New World Grenache. Most of us came in with similar experiences with the 07 and no one left with something different. Maybe it just needed to be in Magnum format and eaten with sushi to really appreciate it.
This bottle is up there with the very limited number of desert island wines I’ve been fortunate to try in my lifetime (DRC, Petrus, Le Pin). Pale crimson with ruby rim. Soaring bouquet of gunsmoke and stem notes - it’s like the wine was morphing between Lafite and La Tache. Constantly evolving palate of strawberries, stewed strawberries, morelo cherry, cherry confit, lavender, grass, hay, herb, and licorice liquer. After three hours the fruit had receded somewhat and sweet tobacco and leather notes. In one of the very few occasions both my wife and I scored this 98/100. If I’m brutally honest the “second” wine Pignan is not far off but the flagship is something else. Again 98/100.
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Pretty nose, but the palate suggests this bottle is flawed. Hot finish. I think this bottle saw heat, and there perhaps was a bit of instability. Shame.
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This bottle, purchased directly from the Chateau, was astonishing. Light in color with an exciting, perfumed nose that whispered rather than shouting, with delicate floral tones, garrigue, griotte cherry, perhaps hints of the famous Kirsch aroma (but just a hint). Light yet balanced, long, endless. A revelation.
Musique & Vin Festival BYO Dinner with Musicians (1243 Bourgogne Society - Beaune): Small glass. My first time tasting from tis vintage, and I was surprised to find it to be the ripest Rayas I have ever tasted. Very densely packed with so much flavor, but less of the perfect harmony and balance I typically associate with this wine. Certainly very good, but not a vintage I would own.
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Pale ruby with garnet bricking on the rim. Intense aromas of ripe red cherry, strawberry tart, roses, potpourri, licorice, and fragrant spice. Wonderfully elegant and profound wine with lingering satisfying finish. This expression of Grenache is one of the world’s most highly regarded for a reason.
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About as perfect as wine gets. Leaving the extra point out there in case this can improve as I think it very well might. The perfect wine (at least for me) is extremely powerful but not at all heavy, extremely sweet but never cloying, aromatically complex but unbelievably clear on what it delivers and something that lingers on the palate for a long time and in your memory for much longer. The rayas was all these things. Sweet, concentrated, ethereal. Cherry , Asian spices, potpourri on the nose. In a word, perfect.
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2 hours of bottle aeration prior to the first sip and consumed over 4 hours after the Salon. Unbelievable haunting nose of perfume, aromatic potpourri, ripe red cherries, loads of liquorice and fine-kirsh, game and animal. From a stupendously mellifluous palate with succulent redcurrants and candied strawberries, amazingly integrated with velvety and melt tannin, to the flamboyantly finish with all spices, herbal and medicine like Angelica and Ginseng. No heat sensation of alcohol at all. Everything was seamless. It kept evolving between feminine fragrancy, zen-like density and funky yet harmonious complexity. To me it was like a wild version of JF Mugnier Musigny that reminiscent me of the iron fist in a velvet glove. Truly shocking!
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Lush, sensuous, rich, deep, long and fresh, the fruit is sweet, spicy, earthy and bright. You also find notes of flowers, kirsch and forest herbs. Silky, complex, bright and vibrant, there is an exotic edge to the texture in the finish. As good as this is now, it is only going to get better over the next decade.
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Opulent and deep, evolved for hours in the glass. To me this is one of the only (the only?) red wines outside of Burgundy that belongs on the same table with top producer Grand Crus.
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Robe rubis avec quelques reflets orangés d'intensité moyennement pâle.
Nez magique et complexe de pot-pourri, fleur mauve, fraise écrasé, abricot, épice, fruit rouges et noirs.. Quelle précision et profondeur !
Je résumerai la bouche en disant que c'est une main de fer dans un gant de velours... Une densité et une concentration toute en légèretées. L'alcool est généreux, la longueur est telle que les saveurs restent très longtemps en bouche.
Une cuvée complète au delà du magnifique qui se boit déjà superbement à ce stade même si l'avenir devrait encore la transcender !
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shows the ripe and richness of the vintage. Slight herbaceousness mixed with rich plums, red cherries, and sweet strawberry. A mellow earthiness on the palate with intense rich fruit. Good medium high acidity to balance (although could probably use a touch more acidity). Still a pretty tasty wine.
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Opened in the bottle 5 plus hours. Borderline syrupy red fruit with touches cured meat, smoke, white flowers, dried herbs, vanilla and kirsch. Slightly vegetal but not distracting. Light Burgundian style with a powerful punch. Overall it has a very authentic and pure quality to it. Still high acid and likely not peaking yet. This was a good bottle.
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Paul Bocuse. :30 decant Floral concentrated and complex. Dark cherry, prune, smoked meat , mushrooms, . This wine needed a decant and improved in hour two. More balanced elegant with a spicy finish
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Following a gorgeous DRC Riche 98. At first this was awkward on the nose, really shrill with a pronounced greenness that later softened more into citric notes before then going more generous red fruited with an hour of air. The palate immediately accessible and sweet and lush but in that Burgundian style that Rayas does so well. Half a bottle was coravined and we did only splash decant before drinking. This wine should be opened morning of if one wants if for dinner. Or be given a lengthy decant or some more time in bottle. The 06 and 08 are more approachable now.
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Opened an hour before drinking, but only opened to its fullest after 15 minutes in the glass. The wine continued to evolve in the glass. The first glass had a smoked nose with a smoked and leather taste. After 15 minutes... red fruit, cherry and what an explosion in the mouth!! The Rayas 2007 was for me even better than the Rayas 2005 vintage... MAGNIFICENT!
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Quite rich and ripe with sweet red fruit, lacked some of the acidity and structure I believe the 06 and 08’ Rayas has present at this stage, leading the 07’ to feel just a bit soupy and flat by comparison. Very good, but this bottle was not the showstopper that I’ve experienced with other young Rayas.
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A private dinner (Restaurant d'Oude Schuur, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium): Outstanding but not spectacular nose, lacks the ultimate wow-factor, slightly earthy. Rich and elegant style on the palate, ripe, rosehip and red berries, spices, red meat, gentle tannins, creamy length. Excellent Rayas typicity but this bottle seems a bit muted, without the real Reynaud magic.
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Je lui donne la même note que le Pignan ce soir en précisant: le Pignan est parfait, à point. Pas le Rayas, qui montre un peu trop de tannins et d’acidité, mais qui est plus complexe et qui dépassera son petit frère dans quelques années car il a le potentiel de croître. À suivre...
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Efter första doften märks det är det här vinet inte är blygt. Chark, blod, rosmarin, mosade körsbär, aprikos, lite alkoholstick, apelsin och svartpeppar. Doften bara växer och ändras mycket efter ett par timmar.
I munnen är det också pang på med mängder av björnbär, tobak, chark, tobak och ett kryddigt avslut med mycket svartpeppar. Helt klart ett stort vin som ändå har mycket elegans. Långt avslut med en lite stram finish. Även om det onekligen är ett fantastiskt vin så är jag fortfarande inte helt såld på Chateauneuf. 94+
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Splendid wine, and a major Rayas. Aromas of orange peel, cherry, spices, tobacco, eucalyptus, cinammon, clove. Everytime you stick your nose to the glass you have different flavours, it is quite amazing how this wine was constantly evolving in the glass. This is all about finesse, elegance, complexity and freshness, with an impressive length wrapped in very refined tanins. Clearly the best Rayas I have tasted until now, and I believe it will improve with a further aging. Loved it!
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The first indoor gathering since Covid (Clarity - Vienna, Virginia): This was incredibly expressive and impressive upon release. There is a hint of fizz which gives much better version of Aussie sparkling Shirazs. Enormous wine with impressive concentration. Much bigger wine than the 06. A lot of cinnamon and tobacco. The fruit is a bit stewed. The fizz bothers me and make the overall expression a bit subdued.
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Brooding dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, asphalt, roasted meats, black pepper, good minerality with bright acidity. There was a bite to this wine that some thought was secondary fermentation while others did not.
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Alluring and airy nose; beautiful swirls of red fruit, pronounced spice, tobacco, even hints of white pepper. Really unique. I could keep nosing this forever. The palate matches in flavour profile. I read that someone thought this was ethereal and intense at the same time. Didn’t think it would be possible but it was. The wine was surprisingly feminine, youthful, pure and elegant but unfortunately short and a bit watery on the finish.
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Complex and beautiful perfumes of red and black fruits with a touch of spices, licorice and anis, the mouth is ultra refined, velvety, with layers of fruits and spices, a seamless and elegant wine yet so rich and so profound, with absolute purity, freshness and grace, and impeccable balance despite the ripeness. Very long, mounting spicy and sweet aftertaste. Absolute stunner, a superlative experience, a bottle that will improve in 10 years. Chapeau Monsieur Reynaud !
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Now this is something special! Hard to find and even harder to buy - this legendary boutique estate has huge expectations on it from a hyped vintage such as 2007. And I’m here to say it delivers in spades - this is spectacular! Bright ruby in colour. Asian spice aromas with cherries and blood orange form a stunning nose that screams of sex appeal. Light on its feet but immense depth of flavour with impressive purity and perfumed precision scream from the glass. This is remarkable wine that leaves a lasting impression well after the (looong) finish has faded. The heat from this vintage seems entirely irrelevant to this wine and it only improves with more time in the glass. You may have to sell your firstborn to get some but you may well not regret it after you’ve tasted this. 98 points
Ethereal and yet powerful. Light and yet intense. Berries and Chinese herbal bitterness, the harmonious combination is very appealing, balanced on knife's edge. Still very primary and after enjoying 2 glorious bottles, will not touch the remainder for at least another 3-5 years depending on if occasion calls for me to pull some out of storage.
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Lukter som en hypotetisk blanding av Dom des Tours og La Pialade. Så tett, men likevel så luftig. Sødmefull i munn. Tett vin med vanvittig konsentrasjon som kunne trengt 10 år til. En sexy fruktbombe.
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Opened 3 hours before drinking. Was in the final flight together with the 2007 bonneau celestins. Immediately more aromatic than the bonneau with more sweetness and personality. Although tonight compared to the 2009 rayas it was much more restrained. Easily needs more cellar time. But 93-95;potential.
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Had this blind right after having the extremely elegant Rayas 2006. And absolutely no one guessed anything near Rayas even after coming just from the 2006.
Dark garnet red in the glass. Nearly black.
The nose is big and robust. Black olives, balsamic and red and dark fruit.
Big power in the taste as well. This is spicy, dark fruits, big body and great length and smooth tannins. Long lige ahead. And completely different from the 2006 (which I personally preferred).
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Amane. Courtesy of Jason. The best Rayas I've ever had. Certainly the nose is absolutely stunning - when the "mulled strawberry" not is given, this is it. In as much as Allemand is the burgundy of northern Rhone, this is probably it for CdP. Layers of gorgeous red fruit that keep wafting through the glass. The palate is also red fruited, but here we also see the vintage come through - this isn't a light wine, and the finish starts to get a touch bitter and alcoholic. I wonder if significant time in the cellar will mellow this, and bring it a touch more into harmony on the finish; the pedigree is certainly there.
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Oh man the CDP of CDPs. Lights out vintage for Rayas. Took some time to open up but then was absolutely killer. Stunning bottle and likely one of the wines of the vintage.
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SLDS - PR GC: Day 1: Plum, dark florals, licorice, raisin and some VA/petrol characters. Acid lines the palate, with super strong intensity of fruit as well. Not what I think of when I think Rayas.
Day 2: Still showing a hefty VA lift with punchy ripe red fruits and some cocoa, starting to show more peppery spice on both the nose and palate versus what I saw on Friday as well - still feels like its staining the palate with the ripe fruit but getting a bit more sense of the layers underneath - I actually think the best glass was the last one tonight - wasn't showing any signs of slowing down.
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Hands down, this is one of the best wines I've ever enjoyed. First time I've ever had Rayas, and for my palate, this trips every wire. It highlights my favorite fruits (wild strawberry and raspberry), aromas (lavender), and intensity levels. On a night of amazing wines, it blew away the other 100-pointers. I'll call this life-affirming and -changing, the way a 100-pointer should be. My wife and I adore Grenache, but this is the best yet/ever. I can only pray that I find a way to enjoy far more Rayas in the years to come.
A WOW wine to me! It was my first experirnce to Rayas but could be unforgettable. I agreed with Jeff that it was "an incredible tasting experience from the nose to the palate". But I was more impressed to the nose experience. Thanks to my friend to bring this but it was shame that the spicy Xaanxi cousine did not pair with this. The wine could be enjoyed without food.
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Just an incredible tasting experience from the nose to the palate. Holy Cow! The haunting perfume is more than ample to get things going. But on the palate, where the wine really shines, it is the endless waves sweet, ripe kirsch and cherry notes that stop you in its tracks. Picture layer after layer of elegance and purity and you only start getting what this is all about. Not decanted, which was a minor mistake as the wine got better and better in the glass, filling out and gaining in complexity and softness. This is what great wine is all about!
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Another Wine Slog Across France; 11/2/2019-11/13/2019 (Paris, Alsace, Burgundy, Encore Paris): A late substitute for the sold out 2005 on a wine list-lucky us! Darker, deeper ruby than I've usually seen with Rayas. Both the nose and palate overload the senses with black cherry, licorice, coffee, crushed herb, and chocolate. A friend said "ripe tomato", and I can understand her take. All of this is restrained by very good acidity for the year, and the feel is superb, if weightier than typical Rayas. With time, I will admit that the slightest bit of heat showed up, but in the context of this vintage, the complexity, vibrancy, and lack of roasted qualities are nothing short of miraculous.
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At dinner, near Avignon Nose - ripe brambleberry, dark fruit licorice, black pepper Mouth - dense, vinous, highly concentrated, with small sips engulfing the palate. Very rich but taut. Almost reminiscent of a California wine in its richness and intensity. I think this has all the stuffing but needs at least ten years to mellow. In a word : hold.
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Dark ruby. This very surprisingly came across as starting to finally show some secondary elements. Coffee and cocoa!! Medium to sweet. A bit darker than the 2003. Balanced but maybe still in an awkward phase now. Perhaps wait.
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Dinner at home to celebrate Esh’s birthday, rich ripe, sweet & pruny, well balanced given the alc, I think these 07 Rayas are in its awkward teen years, very different from bottles drank in 2013-2014.
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This been a 2007 makes it currently an atypical Rayas, less gentle, riper, heavier and albeit "only" 14% alc we felt it was quite noticeable and in a way out of tune with the elegance we have come to expect. Beyond that the wine is definitely young and we would give it another 5 years minimum to develop . 92 for now
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Noxious. Like Robitussin. Not only in the sense that it literally tastes like Robitussin, but the sensation is *just like* those kids medicines that taste so vile they have to add a ton of sweetness to make it possible to force even a tiny bit down the gullet, which instead of masking the grossness just makes it taste both gross and grossly sweet.
Light to medium red; rich rounded raspberry nose, slight hint of greenness; rich and rounded, some sweetness, a bit sour in the middle; more body than Fonsalette also tasted, same green notes
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Deep and rich rose of dominant fruit: spicy raspberry jam, currant, lychee, licorice, strawberry, leather, caramel, strong alcohol. Developing secondary of truffle and animalistic. Mild yet broad ripeness adds to the exceptional balance. Sweet palate supported by firm tannin, albeit a bit flat. Retaining the signature Rayas lightness this wine is very Burgundy (Grand Cru, something of a Musigny) in style, and really speaks to me. Waiting for a stronger secondary and tertiary, and potentially a stronger structure. 96+
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My first look at this wine. 100% Grenache from a hot vintage. Double decanted 90 mins before serving. A huge soaring nose of strawberry jam, raspberry, herbs, leather and some suggestions of tobacco. Tons of sweet fruit initially on the palate but there is a depth and complexity there too. Velvety, rich and unctuous on the palate. Not an acid-driven wine not overtly unbalanced either. Although I don't have much experience with Rayas, this was a touch hot on the back end, so probably it's fair to say the hot vintage has left it's mark here. Not sure where this is headed to be honest, but not a crime to drink now with a decent airing.
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Hello beautiful—wow! Raspberry jam and spice, currant and fennel on the nose. Beautifully rounded, medium body, gorgeous and perfumed long finish. Elegant and much lighter than other bruiser CDPs enjoyed tonight. On the young side but absolutely ready. If they serve candy in heaven, this is what it tastes like.
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07 Rayas has the signature lychee nose with herbs, licorice and sweet dark fruit. Palate is jammy, ripe and alcoholic because of the hot vintage. A difficult vintage for Rayas. This wine seems very controversial in the ct community. If you enjoy a burgundian and elegant rayas, this wine is not for you because the ripeness is a problem here. This is my least favourite rayas among 99,00,01, 03,04,06.
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Soirée avec Fabien Moreau : prise 2 (Chez Oana et Adam): Nez de sauternes dit David, c’est un signe qui ne ment pas. Floral, avec de l'eau de vie (kirsch). Bouche puissante, longue et encore un peu rustique, je pensais à un Fonsalette 2007. Encore jeune et tannique il fut pourtant ouvert au matin. Grand potentiel, encore jeune. 93+
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An extraordinary wine. Massive power of alcohol and fruit. Sweet on the palate though technically dry - the sweetness comes from the alcohol and fruit. Subltle red and black fruits on the palate, with a strong overlay of charged strawberry, followed by fennel, mocha and embers. A multi layered wine that is still very young
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Restaurant Fitzgerald (Rotterdam , NL): Intense generous nose full of fruit. On the palate a gorgeous silky texture with great weight, intense concentration and full of pure ripe fruit, earth and sweet spices. An amazing wine that keeps up lingering on the palate.
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Given the comments in here I would have to say this was an off bottle. Similar to 2000 Pignan this had a medicinal nose with some band-aid aromas and on the palate. Young and linear. Some spice and strawberry but just nothing in the way of secondary nuance or complexity. Disappointment.
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Rayas Rayas Rayas (Rebelle): Less of a nose, but definitely all there on the palette. Lots of red currant and high acidity. Very pretty and intense. I felt like I could taste the hotter vintage here and didn't quite love it as much as the '06 and '04, but still a great wine.
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Chateau Rayas Vertical Dinner (Rebelle, NY, NY): #6/17 - Onto the main event now with the first of the Chateau Rayas Reserves. Served side by side with the '06 and '04. The ripeness of the vintage is evident here - it is he darkest in color of this flight, has a bit of alcohol and dark fruit on the nose and the palate is quite heavy in comparison. My impression if of a very herbal cherry cough syrup. My second least favorite wine of the night - I think best to avoid this vintage even from a rockstar like Rayas.
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Leiden visits Fitzgerald Restaurant in Rotterdam for 50 year Anniversary: My second Rayas, and again a very special wine. Ruby colour, very aromatic nose with red fruit, sweetness, some leather. Taste full with red fruit, complex, intense, some alcohol, spices, very sensual. Elegant wine, did not know CdP could be like this.
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I've often seen threads about what wine you would want on a desert island, etc. Well, I was away from my wine cellar for 10 months, so I can now answer the question "what wine will you drink first when you get home"?
I went with Rayas 2007 and was not sorry about this choice!
The wine is medium ruby with a soaring nose of raspberries, crème brule, leather and garrigue. The palate is light and on the tart side, unexpected for this hot, dry, vintage, again dominated by raspberry fruit, but supported by tannic firmness and with a long mineral-inflected finish. An outstanding wine, not yet fully mature, but getting there. One small nit, but an important one: I don't find that signature aroma of cannuba wax here. Maybe the hot summer drove it off. So this could pass for a wine from Charvin, for example. Given that the label says "Rayas" I was slightly let down to not have it taste as Rayas normally tastes... not a huge flaw, but the wine will never merit 100pts in my book without that specific spicy aroma one associates with this vineyard and this wine!
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for its current expression this wine is much more an ordinary CdP than a Rayas. The ethereal lightness of Rayas is almost not there - there is a slight hint and maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel in 10-15 years time. It is the most disappointing Rayas I have had and my recommendation is to wait some years before opening it - unless you like a heavy full-bodied CdP which I is at the moment a prime example of.
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Having had Rayas in every vintage since 1998, I believe this is the heaviest, most concentrated, and unfortunately the least Rayas like rendition of this great micro climate. Seems like the heat of the vintage kills the balance of the Granache even in this cold sandy plot., something I have never encountered in Rayas before. There is jammy, plummy, thick notes of dark fruit. Just a slight resemblance of the tell tale strawberries and thyme from other vintages. The palate is also heavy with a sweet attack (OK for Rayas) but the mid palate lacks the light, burgundy-type playfulness which makes Rayas so hard to resist. Normally we finish a bottle in 30 minutes (!). This one, I had a hard time drinking up... Hopefully it will throw away the heaviness with bottle age, but it will take a looong time with all that fruit and concentration.
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50th bd party Wine no 8 & 9. 2 bottles that was quite different, the first was lively, fresh, complex that was voted WOTN, the second was a bit tight, still lovely and sexy but not quite a home run, second bottle was a 93 points at most 97
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Verticale du Château Rayas (Au Petit Resto): Contrairement aux autres, celui-ci fut ouvert l'après-midi, ayant donc eu quelques heures seulement d'aération. Le nez s'en ressent, plus fermé, un peu viandeux, pas très bavard. La bouche est ronde et bien concentrée, avec une richesse atypique, il montre un équilibre structurel impeccable mais bien peu de charme. Certains évoquaient une bouteille qui aurait eu chaud, mais je ne trouvais rien qui l'indiquait dans les arômes. J'y vois plutôt un vin servi un peu trop chaud, issu d'un millésime solaire en plus, qui a besoin de temps ou de beaucoup d'air. Le potentiel du vin me semblait très grand. 90 pts ce soir, sans doute 95 + dans 5 ans, avec une longue aération.
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2007 Rayas : Made from 100% Grenarche, the nose is sweet, lovely sweet like a Musigny with a typical scent of Grenarche. Seductive, full of passions, baby powder and plenty of scents so dramatic. Silky, solid texture, amazing round, delicious already at this moment and can go another 20-30 years. The No.1 Chateauneuf-de-Pape for sure.
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My all time favorite Rayas! Light Pinot red, stunning bouquet of raspberries, spices, sweet cherries, complex, secondary aromas coming out, truffles, after 2.5 hours classic Rayas strawberries emerged, on the palate, rich, sensual, layered, very long, full bodied with a bitter sweet finish, velvet tannins, lush, perfect balance, divine & heavenly, always a treat the 07 97
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Detta var något helt annat än den flaska jag drack för drygt ett år sedan. Här har vi allt man önskar av en Rayas. Underbar elegant frukt, otroligt silkig textur med en sån otrolig balans och elegans. Toppvin!
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Expected a bit more. Nevertheless lots of complexity. Just a hint of heat on the back end. Will get better with more time in the cellar but not a crime to drink it now. Serve it a little bit cooler than room temperature.
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Drank at 67 Some barnyard on the nose which blew off after a while. A little richer than a normal Rayas but still more like a Burgundy than a CNDP. Very nice.
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Light color for a CDP but darker than some of the other Rayas I've seen. Looks like a Pinot. Nose really comes out of the glass; spice, raspberry, almost a candy apple note. Long finish of tart red berry. Lots of acidity. Drinking well now but I think this is better in 2018. A tiny bit of heat.
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Lush, silky, fresh, sensuous, perfectly ripe, richly textured, sweet red fruits from start to finish in the nose, on the palate and in the long, lingering, finish. The perfect blend of concentration, intensity, elegance, complexity uniqueness of character. If you have the money..... This is sublime!
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Mostly French dinner - Rayas, 00 Lafite, 13 Trump, H Lignier CDR and etc. (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): What happened here! Noticeable fizz, is it going through secondary fermentation, lambrusco? Medium nose displaying red and black fruits, blackberry, strawberry, cherry liqueur, tobacco and animal. Hard to discern the concentration level due to noticeable fizz, dry red cherry driven palate impression and good finish that ends with a tobacco note. Upon release, it was flirting with perfection but the fizziness is a major concern now. Still enjoyable though.
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Dracks sida vid sida med 2007 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins . Har alltid älskat Rayas, men här hade det tyvärr inte en chans. Flaskan var nog tyvärr inte riktigt i balans. Godisaktiga toner av Hallon och körsbär. En aning spritsiga toner från start så att man misstänkte att flaskan efterjäst.
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Baller dinner honoring Chicago winos -- 99 La Tache, 99 Leroy RSV, 07 SE & etc (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Once again what fun and privilege to compare the 05 and 07 side by side. This is bigger and darker than the 05. Blackberries, blackberry liquor, black cherries, a hint of cherry liquor a la Rayas, licorice, lavender, gariggue, dark spices, anise and animal. Exceptional concentration, wild herb, tobacco and jammy black fruit driven palate impression, perfectly integrated tannins and long seamless finish.
Dinner at Trelio (Clovis Ca.): Had along with the 05….which just killed this. Don't know what happened here…..very primary, candied raspberry, cherry fruit…with tons of high toned blood orange citrus (VA?) that really detracted. Lighter bodied than the 05…just a faint leather and white pepper spice….it did get slightly better as the night went on…but still…that acid?
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With a selection of cheeses including an excellent piece of 36 month old Comté was an options wine that pretty well stumped most of the table. It was extremely ripe with a big dose of VA that punched raisin like fruit into one’s nostrils. It was loaded with raspberry jam and chocolate aromas and flavours and gained some floral nuance in the glass. It had a creamy mouthfeel and was very long. It was the 2007 Château Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
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Super Bowl 2014 (Roswell, GA): Denser garnet core with pale rose rim; nose initially led me to Burgundy, orange, cranberry, pomegranate, light raspberry, hints at fig and roasted fruit, very perfumed and focused; sour fruit, tart berry, subtle power, rich but good acid, dusty earth, orange, fig, herbs, not overtly sweet like Pignan or the '03, just a touch of heat on the finish; already a beautiful wine I could see this gaining some elegance with 5 more years or more but I'm not sure it would be more expressive; an extremely well crafted wine.
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Color: medium red Nose: this is my 2nd bottle of the 07 with the 1st drunk last year & the nose is gorgeous - strawberries, rose water, Provençal herbs, all in concentrated manner
Palate: amazing stuff, very ripe red fruits, silky sweet tannins, drinking so well now but will get better with age, complex, we drank this with the 95 Rayas & felt the 07 is better. This is my favourite Rayas so far having tried the 95, 99, 01 & 08.
Rated: 99
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Just WOW! Opened and poured a small amount. The initial pour was very light in color and taste. Looked like a Pinot Noir. Over the next three hours in gained substantial weight and color. Definitely kirsch and wassail. Nutmeg, allspice, cloves, raisins, with very strong dark raspberries. Had a hint of milk chocolate and orange peel and at some point had a bit of barnyard funk (in a good way). At the end of three hours when you expect the tannins to overpower the wine it got spicy fruity with dark chocolates. This wine will evolve for years. I am jealous of an earlier reviewer who had more bottles in his cellar as there are only 250 cases brought into the US. Would love to revisit this wine in 5 and then 10 years from now. Definitely a magical experience as to what a wine can be as expressed in Chateauneuf-du-pape. Just WOW. Did I say that already??
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Perfect bottle. Young, deep, dark, massive colour. WOW! The bouquet knocks me of my chair! Packed with lots of sweet red and black fruit, yet you can smell the mineral and acidity. Kirsch, jam, spices, blackberry, black raspberry. I didn't expect this from this warm year. I expected an extracted wine, but this is marvelous! Lovely on the palate! Great fruit, and amazingly balanced at this early stage. Silky, soft, exotic and intense. Very, very long. Great potential for a perfect score in ten years.
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Tasted double blind at Rhone varietal themed "Show Me Yours" tasting at Grailey's. Nose was very bright compared to the other 6 wines. Rose petals, red fruit. Sadly, the palate did not match. The wine had a medicinal taste and was cloyingly sweet. Almost like cherry cough syrup. 3 sommeliers who tried the wine did not believe it was defective. It was not corked, cooked, etc. Perhaps just in a bad place right now or just an off bottle. Many participants in the tasting did not want to finish their pours.
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Rich, deep, concentrated and lush, the wine is packed with the perfect blend of ripe and over ripe cherries, kirsch, black raspberry jam, pepper and earth. This is silky, intense and exotic. As good as this is now, it's only going to get better with time. Rayas has one of the best track records in Chateauneuf du Pape for improving with age.
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Wow this is good, huge expression of Grenache that is very clean yet extremely powerful. Drinking really well but I'm sure will have a long life ahead of it.
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Wow! Still a baby but the potential here is incredible. Drank along side the legendary 1995 Rayas and this drank better. In 4 -5 years this may turn out to be one of the greatest vintages ever for Rayas.
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Chateau Margaux vertical dinner with great whites and 2007 Rayas (Ruth Chris Tysons Corner, VA): Incredibly expressive nose of wild flowers and herbs, oolong tea, smoked meat, wild game anise, strawberry and raspberry. Extremely sweet red fruit palates, a hint of fizz with noticeable gaminess. The wine shows the perfectly matured fruits and not overdone, very classic youthful CDP. Just incredible showing even after all the Margauxs.
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Fresh off the truck from Chicago, I could not wait. Hard to write one note as this changed dramatically over the course of the evening. Not much nose at first, but the palate was full of those Rayas flavors, kirsch, sandalwood, spice, etc. After an hour the nose really opened up, spice, red fruit,etc. Later, the nose was very exotic, Indian spice, Chinese 5 spice, hard to peg. This was quite a bit different than the 2006 and should be cellared for a bit, but damn, I love Rayas.
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3/22/2024 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Opulent, and hedonistic in style, the wine is all about hitting your pleasure buttons with waves of peppery, black cherries, kirsch, garrigue, black plums, and blackberries. The creamy, sensuous finish builds as it lingers. Drink from 2024-2040.
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3/1/2024 - Burgnick Likes this wine: 91 Points
Liked it a bit more than last time. Less jammy and ripe, and hopefully it will shed all the baby fat with age. Only decanted for an hour but it probably needs much longer to drink today. If you only have one bottle, give it another 8-10 years before considering to open it.
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2/23/2024 - Hugo Hilde wrote:
Perhaps not a perfect bottle, the nose showed primarily sous bois.
Dark berries on the palate with mature complexity, a hint of brett which I suspect muted the fruits somewhat.
Classy structure, though.
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1/20/2024 - palfr2 wrote:
Internationale du Gout - Vertical series #1: Rayas dinner with Morrocan fusion food; 1/19/2024-1/20/2024 (Singapore): Matched against the '05. I wanted to dislike this wine based on confirmation bias around the 07 CdP vintage which has unfortunately produced overly alcoholic and pruney wines at most addresses. Surprise! While the fruit profile was leaning noticeably riper with more plum and liquorice this still showcased a consistent Rayas package in terms of aromatics and overall integration. In context of the vintage and the likes of Clos des Papes, Charvin, Beaucastel, Pegau, Janasse etc... this a ballerina. If the fruit does not grow more stewed over time I see this has a chance of closing the gap with the '05 and '06.
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1/6/2024 - wineton.mee wrote: 96 Points
10 hour decant really just barely did the trick here. The second half of the bottle was quite brilliant as the wine started to flesh out. Manuka honey, wilted roses, candied prunes, ripe strawberries, burnt incense, liquorice, medicinal herbs. Really spicy and big in the mouth. This is hotter, darker and more medicinal against the 2008; certainly does not score points for elegance on the Rayas scale. But nonetheless it’s darn attractive and immensely complex and with time, might just take off to the next level.
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12/25/2023 - oxwombat Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opened in Otto e Mezzo HK.
We played around with this bottle. It was first slow-oxed for 3 hours before we poured a small bit to try. We then decided to decant 1/3 of the bottle and enjoy that first, before returning to see how the rest of the wine in the bottle was doing.
Anyway, this was absolutely incredible. Denser and darker than any other Rayas that I've had, but with air it didn't seem clunky or poorly integrated. Red fruit was bursting out of the glass, alongside its signature herbaceousness. The alcohol gave a hint of welcome spice that was present but not unpleasant. Everything was so powerful: a true example of an iron fist inside a velvet glove.
This was undisputed WOTD for everyone. Even small pours shared with newcomers joining hours later kept outclassing other wines that were being opened as the day went on.
It blows my mind that this is likely to continue improving with a bit more age, because it's already so good now with enough air. However, if you really do have the itch to try this, go ahead - just give it the patience it deserves, both in the breathing and the drinking over time.
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11/26/2023 - Alex Barbera wrote: 92 Points
Von allem zu viel - ein wilder Ritt - vielleicht auch keine perfekte Flasche
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11/18/2023 - Topper wrote: 94 Points
In a flight of 07, 08 & 10 Rayas reserve, this stood out as the darkest, inkiest, richest, deepest, most extracted wine, full of vintage characteristic. Was it the best of the flight, or the night? No. These highly rich wines no longer do it for me, though I'm sure some will love it (in time). For me the '10 was the king of the hill, even if it needs even more time. It's just the more complete wine.
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11/2/2023 - clayfu wrote:
i’ve much maligned this wine due to how ripe and candied it was on release and the following years. I just had one at the end of 2022 and it was so candied and alcoholic i didn’t even want to drink it. As a joke - when #noigmatt mentioned this bottle for the dinner, i said you should open it the day before. He popped it at 7pm the night before, poured off a glass and gave it to the morning. Then in the morning decanted it until dinner time.
It needed all that air. It still gave off a lot of the ripe candied sweet fruit but the alcohol felt more integrated. The acidity felt more pronounced to taper down the ripeness. Incredibly sappy and red fruit driven, started to show some herbaceousness on the finish that reminded me a bit of yellow Chartreuse. Each pour the wine focused in a bit more. I’d keep my hands off these, see where they develop further with age, based on the amount of air needed, it probably needs another decade to tone down. Or it can be like the 2005 that’s suddenly evolved quickly and shed a lot of it’s candied fruit and become a pretty delicious wine.
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10/29/2023 - Philippe_C wrote: 97 Points
Superb nose, animal, hint of licorice… Delicious sappy and delicate, shows nice balance and freshness in a powerfull vintage
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10/5/2023 - kostaslonis Likes this wine:
Reynaud wine tasting, Pure Spirits (Gallina restaurant): Pure Grenache, the only plot with sand in Châteaunef du Pape, the bottle was opened and left uncorked for 24 hours
-/-
The wine shows a rather elegant profile but a touch closed still, there fruit is on the overripe spectrum, austere, not giving away much, candied red fruit
Palate again is very austere, the fruit is way in the back, very linear in a way, currant, cherry, fresh ripe but also dried and slightly spiced notes, elegant, tensity, nerve, feels closed and very youthful compared to the previous wines, needs time to come together, med finish
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9/11/2023 - sdsull Likes this wine: 94 Points
Decanted for 1 hour. Strawberry and a bit of leather on the nose. Medium finish. Not as good as I remember prior bottles.
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5/20/2023 - Kevnzworld wrote: 94 Points
This possibly had storage issues
Ripe cherry kirsch. Of the three Rayas we’ve been fortunate to drink on this trip this is the ripest with a hint of oxidation that detracted from the experience versus the 2006 we enjoyed earlier.
The signature green element is present
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5/3/2023 - Goodwine4ever wrote: 94 Points
Dégustation de six Rayas
2007
Le nez est similaire au 2006 mais un peu plus profond par son fruit mure et sa légère chaleur. En bouche, fraises des champs, leger tannin en avant plan avec un peu de chauffe en finale amené par un alcool subtillement présente. Pas le Rayas le plus raffiné mais ca reste un excellent vin !
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5/2/2023 - Mario17 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Verticale de Rayas, mon no 5 sur 6. Beau nez de fruits rouges et d’épices, le plus riche avec un côté un peu plus tannique, touche alccoleuse, le plus “Chateauneuf” de la verticale, très bon toutefois.
5 out of 6 but still a very good bottle. Richer and slightly more tannic with a touch of heat on the finish.
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4/24/2023 - LB88 wrote: 93 Points
Opened at 3pm for dinner, decanted at the restaurant. More ready and open than last drank but was still not fully integrated. A little bit of VA. I think could do with more cellaring to be perfect
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3/31/2023 - jamesabdavis wrote:
My last experience of this wine was bad: I thought it was massively over-ripe and just awful. I resolved to sell what I had.
Since then many people have told me that to appreciate Rayas properly you have to give it tons of air. So this evening I’m opening a bottle, I will double decant it, leave it for 24 hours and see what happens.
A taste from the bottle confirms my previous experience: smells like port, raisiny fruit on the palate. Alcoholic. Just awful.
The next day this is still pretty stewy and alcoholic on the nose but some fresh herbal notes have emerged. With further air fresh coffee.
On the palate it is much better: still ripe but with a bit more freshness and classic CNDP character. It’s rounded out a lot, very dense and sweet black-fruit, glycerin. A nice backbone of acidity.
This is certainly much better after 24 hours of air but it remains a bit of a mystery. It’s complex and rich but just quite disjointed.
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11/16/2022 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
La Tablee: Rayas Dinner with Gregory Castells & Martine Saunier (La Mercerie): Splitting hairs but this came on the heels of the '08 and wasn't quite as evocative as that wine. Still all herbal and freshness. There's a touch more heat here but it's balanced by and elegant fruit. Enjoyable.
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11/14/2022 - clayfu wrote:
the mighty 2007 Rayas, 100 points Parker. 50 points Fu. I legitimately do not understand what people are tasting when I read the CT notes on this wine. I’ve had this multiple times in its life and each time I come to the same conclusion. The wine is a candied, ripe, alcoholic. When people say “oh it’s new world” but in that type of tone where saying New World is the equivalent of telling someone they are in the lower 10% of the class, this is that level of New World Grenache. Most of us came in with similar experiences with the 07 and no one left with something different. Maybe it just needed to be in Magnum format and eaten with sushi to really appreciate it.
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10/29/2022 - Lord of the Bottles Likes this wine: 98 Points
This bottle is up there with the very limited number of desert island wines I’ve been fortunate to try in my lifetime (DRC, Petrus, Le Pin). Pale crimson with ruby rim. Soaring bouquet of gunsmoke and stem notes - it’s like the wine was morphing between Lafite and La Tache. Constantly evolving palate of strawberries, stewed strawberries, morelo cherry, cherry confit, lavender, grass, hay, herb, and licorice liquer. After three hours the fruit had receded somewhat and sweet tobacco and leather notes. In one of the very few occasions both my wife and I scored this 98/100. If I’m brutally honest the “second” wine Pignan is not far off but the flagship is something else. Again 98/100.
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10/10/2022 - Michael T. Zoppo wrote: flawed
Pretty nose, but the palate suggests this bottle is flawed. Hot finish. I think this bottle saw heat, and there perhaps was a bit of instability. Shame.
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8/1/2022 - KPB wrote: 100 Points
This bottle, purchased directly from the Chateau, was astonishing. Light in color with an exciting, perfumed nose that whispered rather than shouting, with delicate floral tones, garrigue, griotte cherry, perhaps hints of the famous Kirsch aroma (but just a hint). Light yet balanced, long, endless. A revelation.
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6/25/2022 - Burgundy Al wrote:
Musique & Vin Festival BYO Dinner with Musicians (1243 Bourgogne Society - Beaune): Small glass. My first time tasting from tis vintage, and I was surprised to find it to be the ripest Rayas I have ever tasted. Very densely packed with so much flavor, but less of the perfect harmony and balance I typically associate with this wine. Certainly very good, but not a vintage I would own.
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6/24/2022 - Matt D Likes this wine: 98 Points
Pale ruby with garnet bricking on the rim. Intense aromas of ripe red cherry, strawberry tart, roses, potpourri, licorice, and fragrant spice. Wonderfully elegant and profound wine with lingering satisfying finish. This expression of Grenache is one of the world’s most highly regarded for a reason.
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6/18/2022 - pdbrn Likes this wine: 99 Points
About as perfect as wine gets. Leaving the extra point out there in case this can improve as I think it very well might. The perfect wine (at least for me) is extremely powerful but not at all heavy, extremely sweet but never cloying, aromatically complex but unbelievably clear on what it delivers and something that lingers on the palate for a long time and in your memory for much longer. The rayas was all these things. Sweet, concentrated, ethereal. Cherry , Asian spices, potpourri on the nose. In a word, perfect.
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5/21/2022 - RayOB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank in Paris
Still too young but beautiful
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5/3/2022 - mowine11 Likes this wine: 100 Points
2 hours of bottle aeration prior to the first sip and consumed over 4 hours after the Salon. Unbelievable haunting nose of perfume, aromatic potpourri, ripe red cherries, loads of liquorice and fine-kirsh, game and animal. From a stupendously mellifluous palate with succulent redcurrants and candied strawberries, amazingly integrated with velvety and melt tannin, to the flamboyantly finish with all spices, herbal and medicine like Angelica and Ginseng. No heat sensation of alcohol at all. Everything was seamless. It kept evolving between feminine fragrancy, zen-like density and funky yet harmonious complexity. To me it was like a wild version of JF Mugnier Musigny that reminiscent me of the iron fist in a velvet glove. Truly shocking!
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4/6/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
Lush, sensuous, rich, deep, long and fresh, the fruit is sweet, spicy, earthy and bright. You also find notes of flowers, kirsch and forest herbs. Silky, complex, bright and vibrant, there is an exotic edge to the texture in the finish. As good as this is now, it is only going to get better over the next decade.
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3/27/2022 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Opulent and deep, evolved for hours in the glass. To me this is one of the only (the only?) red wines outside of Burgundy that belongs on the same table with top producer Grand Crus.
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1/16/2022 - François1986 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Ouverte 48h à l'avance
Robe rubis avec quelques reflets orangés d'intensité moyennement pâle.
Nez magique et complexe de pot-pourri, fleur mauve, fraise écrasé, abricot, épice, fruit rouges et noirs.. Quelle précision et profondeur !
Je résumerai la bouche en disant que c'est une main de fer dans un gant de velours... Une densité et une concentration toute en légèretées. L'alcool est généreux, la longueur est telle que les saveurs restent très longtemps en bouche.
Une cuvée complète au delà du magnifique qui se boit déjà superbement à ce stade même si l'avenir devrait encore la transcender !
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12/24/2021 - mye wrote:
shows the ripe and richness of the vintage. Slight herbaceousness mixed with rich plums, red cherries, and sweet strawberry. A mellow earthiness on the palate with intense rich fruit. Good medium high acidity to balance (although could probably use a touch more acidity). Still a pretty tasty wine.
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11/26/2021 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 98 Points
Opened in the bottle 5 plus hours. Borderline syrupy red fruit with touches cured meat, smoke, white flowers, dried herbs, vanilla and kirsch. Slightly vegetal but not distracting. Light Burgundian style with a powerful punch. Overall it has a very authentic and pure quality to it. Still high acid and likely not peaking yet. This was a good bottle.
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11/2/2021 - Kevnzworld wrote: 97 Points
Paul Bocuse. :30 decant
Floral concentrated and complex. Dark cherry, prune, smoked meat , mushrooms, .
This wine needed a decant and improved in hour two.
More balanced elegant with a spicy finish
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10/21/2021 - BenBlu Likes this wine: 94 Points
Following a gorgeous DRC Riche 98. At first this was awkward on the nose, really shrill with a pronounced greenness that later softened more into citric notes before then going more generous red fruited with an hour of air. The palate immediately accessible and sweet and lush but in that Burgundian style that Rayas does so well. Half a bottle was coravined and we did only splash decant before drinking. This wine should be opened morning of if one wants if for dinner. Or be given a lengthy decant or some more time in bottle. The 06 and 08 are more approachable now.
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9/12/2021 - Dave Canada wrote:
Not ready...wait
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8/1/2021 - Nicolas Beirens Likes this wine: 98 Points
Opened an hour before drinking, but only opened to its fullest after 15 minutes in the glass. The wine continued to evolve in the glass.
The first glass had a smoked nose with a smoked and leather taste.
After 15 minutes... red fruit, cherry and what an explosion in the mouth!!
The Rayas 2007 was for me even better than the Rayas 2005 vintage...
MAGNIFICENT!
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7/24/2021 - joshabramson Likes this wine: 95 Points
Quite rich and ripe with sweet red fruit, lacked some of the acidity and structure I believe the 06 and 08’ Rayas has present at this stage, leading the 07’ to feel just a bit soupy and flat by comparison. Very good, but this bottle was not the showstopper that I’ve experienced with other young Rayas.
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7/12/2021 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 95 Points
A private dinner (Restaurant d'Oude Schuur, Sint-Martens-Latem, Belgium): Outstanding but not spectacular nose, lacks the ultimate wow-factor, slightly earthy. Rich and elegant style on the palate, ripe, rosehip and red berries, spices, red meat, gentle tannins, creamy length. Excellent Rayas typicity but this bottle seems a bit muted, without the real Reynaud magic.
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7/11/2021 - Mazy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Je lui donne la même note que le Pignan ce soir en précisant: le Pignan est parfait, à point. Pas le Rayas, qui montre un peu trop de tannins et d’acidité, mais qui est plus complexe et qui dépassera son petit frère dans quelques années car il a le potentiel de croître. À suivre...
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7/9/2021 - Oscaro Likes this wine: 94 Points
Efter första doften märks det är det här vinet inte är blygt.
Chark, blod, rosmarin, mosade körsbär, aprikos, lite alkoholstick, apelsin och svartpeppar. Doften bara växer och ändras mycket efter ett par timmar.
I munnen är det också pang på med mängder av björnbär, tobak, chark, tobak och ett kryddigt avslut med mycket svartpeppar.
Helt klart ett stort vin som ändå har mycket elegans. Långt avslut med en lite stram finish.
Även om det onekligen är ett fantastiskt vin så är jag fortfarande inte helt såld på Chateauneuf.
94+
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6/18/2021 - Vinum Deorum wrote: 97 Points
Splendid wine, and a major Rayas. Aromas of orange peel, cherry, spices, tobacco, eucalyptus, cinammon, clove. Everytime you stick your nose to the glass you have different flavours, it is quite amazing how this wine was constantly evolving in the glass. This is all about finesse, elegance, complexity and freshness, with an impressive length wrapped in very refined tanins. Clearly the best Rayas I have tasted until now, and I believe it will improve with a further aging. Loved it!
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6/10/2021 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Legendary.
Opulent, dramatic, utterly exquisite.
I have never had another grenache that can compare to this, the winemaker has redefined the varietal for me.
This bottle was a library release, I assume some of the less complimentary notes were from bottles with poor provenance.
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5/6/2021 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
The first indoor gathering since Covid (Clarity - Vienna, Virginia): This was incredibly expressive and impressive upon release. There is a hint of fizz which gives much better version of Aussie sparkling Shirazs. Enormous wine with impressive concentration. Much bigger wine than the 06. A lot of cinnamon and tobacco. The fruit is a bit stewed. The fizz bothers me and make the overall expression a bit subdued.
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5/6/2021 - pakabear Likes this wine: 96 Points
Brooding dark cherry, blackberry, blueberry, asphalt, roasted meats, black pepper, good minerality with bright acidity. There was a bite to this wine that some thought was secondary fermentation while others did not.
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4/3/2021 - Lynn & Wine Likes this wine:
Alluring and airy nose; beautiful swirls of red fruit, pronounced spice, tobacco, even hints of white pepper. Really unique. I could keep nosing this forever. The palate matches in flavour profile. I read that someone thought this was ethereal and intense at the same time. Didn’t think it would be possible but it was. The wine was surprisingly feminine, youthful, pure and elegant but unfortunately short and a bit watery on the finish.
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3/29/2021 - Montesquieu wrote: flawed
"Bring your best" wine night (Ch. de Montesquieu): I rated this wine 100 points the last time I tried it, but this bottle seemed flawed to me and several other tasters. So no rating.
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2/22/2021 - Mag357 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Complex and beautiful perfumes of red and black fruits with a touch of spices, licorice and anis, the mouth is ultra refined, velvety, with layers of fruits and spices, a seamless and elegant wine yet so rich and so profound, with absolute purity, freshness and grace, and impeccable balance despite the ripeness. Very long, mounting spicy and sweet aftertaste. Absolute stunner, a superlative experience, a bottle that will improve in 10 years. Chapeau Monsieur Reynaud !
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2/18/2021 - Paco55 wrote: 98 Points
Now this is something special! Hard to find and even harder to buy - this legendary boutique estate has huge expectations on it from a hyped vintage such as 2007. And I’m here to say it delivers in spades - this is spectacular! Bright ruby in colour. Asian spice aromas with cherries and blood orange form a stunning nose that screams of sex appeal. Light on its feet but immense depth of flavour with impressive purity and perfumed precision scream from the glass. This is remarkable wine that leaves a lasting impression well after the (looong) finish has faded. The heat from this vintage seems entirely irrelevant to this wine and it only improves with more time in the glass. You may have to sell your firstborn to get some but you may well not regret it after you’ve tasted this. 98 points
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1/18/2021 - burg_gram_Jason Likes this wine: 97 Points
Ethereal and yet powerful. Light and yet intense. Berries and Chinese herbal bitterness, the harmonious combination is very appealing, balanced on knife's edge. Still very primary and after enjoying 2 glorious bottles, will not touch the remainder for at least another 3-5 years depending on if occasion calls for me to pull some out of storage.
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1/16/2021 - vinkeger wrote: 95 Points
Lukter som en hypotetisk blanding av Dom des Tours og La Pialade. Så tett, men likevel så luftig. Sødmefull i munn. Tett vin med vanvittig konsentrasjon som kunne trengt 10 år til. En sexy fruktbombe.
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12/20/2020 - LB88 wrote: 93 Points
Opened 3 hours before drinking. Was in the final flight together with the 2007 bonneau celestins. Immediately more aromatic than the bonneau with more sweetness and personality. Although tonight compared to the 2009 rayas it was much more restrained. Easily needs more cellar time. But 93-95;potential.
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10/31/2020 - mblatino Likes this wine: 94 Points
Had this blind right after having the extremely elegant Rayas 2006. And absolutely no one guessed anything near Rayas even after coming just from the 2006.
Dark garnet red in the glass. Nearly black.
The nose is big and robust. Black olives, balsamic and red and dark fruit.
Big power in the taste as well. This is spicy, dark fruits, big body and great length and smooth tannins. Long lige ahead. And completely different from the 2006 (which I personally preferred).
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10/29/2020 - Nicephoras wrote:
Amane. Courtesy of Jason. The best Rayas I've ever had. Certainly the nose is absolutely stunning - when the "mulled strawberry" not is given, this is it. In as much as Allemand is the burgundy of northern Rhone, this is probably it for CdP. Layers of gorgeous red fruit that keep wafting through the glass. The palate is also red fruited, but here we also see the vintage come through - this isn't a light wine, and the finish starts to get a touch bitter and alcoholic. I wonder if significant time in the cellar will mellow this, and bring it a touch more into harmony on the finish; the pedigree is certainly there.
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10/29/2020 - finediningnyc Likes this wine: 97 Points
Oh man the CDP of CDPs. Lights out vintage for Rayas. Took some time to open up but then was absolutely killer. Stunning bottle and likely one of the wines of the vintage.
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9/25/2020 - CamWheeler wrote: 92 Points
SLDS - PR GC: Day 1: Plum, dark florals, licorice, raisin and some VA/petrol characters. Acid lines the palate, with super strong intensity of fruit as well. Not what I think of when I think Rayas.
Day 2: Still showing a hefty VA lift with punchy ripe red fruits and some cocoa, starting to show more peppery spice on both the nose and palate versus what I saw on Friday as well - still feels like its staining the palate with the ripe fruit but getting a bit more sense of the layers underneath - I actually think the best glass was the last one tonight - wasn't showing any signs of slowing down.
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9/17/2020 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 100 Points
Hands down, this is one of the best wines I've ever enjoyed. First time I've ever had Rayas, and for my palate, this trips every wire. It highlights my favorite fruits (wild strawberry and raspberry), aromas (lavender), and intensity levels. On a night of amazing wines, it blew away the other 100-pointers. I'll call this life-affirming and -changing, the way a 100-pointer should be. My wife and I adore Grenache, but this is the best yet/ever. I can only pray that I find a way to enjoy far more Rayas in the years to come.
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4/27/2020 - BLam Likes this wine: 98 Points
A WOW wine to me! It was my first experirnce to Rayas but could be unforgettable. I agreed with Jeff that it was "an incredible tasting experience from the nose to the palate". But I was more impressed to the nose experience. Thanks to my friend to bring this but it was shame that the spicy Xaanxi cousine did not pair with this. The wine could be enjoyed without food.
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11/8/2019 - Jeff Leve wrote: 99 Points
Just an incredible tasting experience from the nose to the palate. Holy Cow! The haunting perfume is more than ample to get things going. But on the palate, where the wine really shines, it is the endless waves sweet, ripe kirsch and cherry notes that stop you in its tracks. Picture layer after layer of elegance and purity and you only start getting what this is all about. Not decanted, which was a minor mistake as the wine got better and better in the glass, filling out and gaining in complexity and softness. This is what great wine is all about!
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11/5/2019 - drwine2001 wrote:
Another Wine Slog Across France; 11/2/2019-11/13/2019 (Paris, Alsace, Burgundy, Encore Paris): A late substitute for the sold out 2005 on a wine list-lucky us! Darker, deeper ruby than I've usually seen with Rayas. Both the nose and palate overload the senses with black cherry, licorice, coffee, crushed herb, and chocolate. A friend said "ripe tomato", and I can understand her take. All of this is restrained by very good acidity for the year, and the feel is superb, if weightier than typical Rayas. With time, I will admit that the slightest bit of heat showed up, but in the context of this vintage, the complexity, vibrancy, and lack of roasted qualities are nothing short of miraculous.
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11/3/2019 - soyhead wrote:
At dinner, near Avignon
Nose - ripe brambleberry, dark fruit licorice, black pepper
Mouth - dense, vinous, highly concentrated, with small sips engulfing the palate. Very rich but taut. Almost reminiscent of a California wine in its richness and intensity. I think this has all the stuffing but needs at least ten years to mellow. In a word : hold.
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10/24/2019 - Renatod wrote: 93 Points
Bom. Começou como parker, mas evoluiu ótimo com uma menta picante. Entregando, não valendo preço.
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8/9/2019 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark ruby. This very surprisingly came across as starting to finally show some secondary elements. Coffee and cocoa!! Medium to sweet. A bit darker than the 2003. Balanced but maybe still in an awkward phase now. Perhaps wait.
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8/9/2019 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine:
Dinner at home to celebrate Esh’s birthday, rich ripe, sweet & pruny, well balanced given the alc, I think these 07 Rayas are in its awkward teen years, very different from bottles drank in 2013-2014.
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3/16/2019 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
This been a 2007 makes it currently an atypical Rayas, less gentle, riper, heavier and albeit "only" 14% alc we felt it was quite noticeable and in a way out of tune with the elegance we have come to expect. Beyond that the wine is definitely young and we would give it another 5 years minimum to develop . 92 for now
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12/28/2018 - Keith Levenberg Does not like this wine: 63 Points
Noxious. Like Robitussin. Not only in the sense that it literally tastes like Robitussin, but the sensation is *just like* those kids medicines that taste so vile they have to add a ton of sweetness to make it possible to force even a tiny bit down the gullet, which instead of masking the grossness just makes it taste both gross and grossly sweet.
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12/24/2018 - Miceri Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light to medium red; rich rounded raspberry nose, slight hint of greenness; rich and rounded, some sweetness, a bit sour in the middle; more body than Fonsalette also tasted, same green notes
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10/12/2018 - hprphf wrote: 96 Points
Deep and rich rose of dominant fruit: spicy raspberry jam, currant, lychee, licorice, strawberry, leather, caramel, strong alcohol. Developing secondary of truffle and animalistic. Mild yet broad ripeness adds to the exceptional balance. Sweet palate supported by firm tannin, albeit a bit flat. Retaining the signature Rayas lightness this wine is very Burgundy (Grand Cru, something of a Musigny) in style, and really speaks to me. Waiting for a stronger secondary and tertiary, and potentially a stronger structure. 96+
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10/8/2018 - JonathanP wrote: 92 Points
My first look at this wine. 100% Grenache from a hot vintage. Double decanted 90 mins before serving. A huge soaring nose of strawberry jam, raspberry, herbs, leather and some suggestions of tobacco. Tons of sweet fruit initially on the palate but there is a depth and complexity there too. Velvety, rich and unctuous on the palate. Not an acid-driven wine not overtly unbalanced either. Although I don't have much experience with Rayas, this was a touch hot on the back end, so probably it's fair to say the hot vintage has left it's mark here. Not sure where this is headed to be honest, but not a crime to drink now with a decent airing.
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10/7/2018 - cliftonng Likes this wine:
Complex and interesting aromas of leather, jammy red fruit and lychee. It is sweet on the palate, balanced and with a long finish.
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9/20/2018 - Onegooddan Likes this wine: 98 Points
Hello beautiful—wow! Raspberry jam and spice, currant and fennel on the nose. Beautifully rounded, medium body, gorgeous and perfumed long finish. Elegant and much lighter than other bruiser CDPs enjoyed tonight. On the young side but absolutely ready. If they serve candy in heaven, this is what it tastes like.
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9/20/2018 - mattiasjansson wrote: 94 Points
Chateauneuf du Pape Tasting (Boston): Medium-dark red. Very young still but showing a lot of promise
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5/17/2018 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 90 Points
On the nose: Green pepper, herbs, licorice
On the palate: Sweet fruit, salmiak, saltiness
Medium + finish
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4/18/2018 - KenPlace wrote: 92 Points
Too young! Tasted blind, and very knowledgeable tasters all agreed it was a Russian River Valley Pinot. I agreed!
Needs at least 5 more years of age.
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3/29/2018 - Burgnick wrote: 90 Points
07 Rayas has the signature lychee nose with herbs, licorice and sweet dark fruit. Palate is jammy, ripe and alcoholic because of the hot vintage. A difficult vintage for Rayas. This wine seems very controversial in the ct community. If you enjoy a burgundian and elegant rayas, this wine is not for you because the ripeness is a problem here. This is my least favourite rayas among 99,00,01, 03,04,06.
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2/16/2018 - d'Artagnan wrote: 93 Points
Soirée avec Fabien Moreau : prise 2 (Chez Oana et Adam): Nez de sauternes dit David, c’est un signe qui ne ment pas. Floral, avec de l'eau de vie (kirsch). Bouche puissante, longue et encore un peu rustique, je pensais à un Fonsalette 2007. Encore jeune et tannique il fut pourtant ouvert au matin. Grand potentiel, encore jeune. 93+
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12/19/2017 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 100 Points
An extraordinary wine. Massive power of alcohol and fruit. Sweet on the palate though technically dry - the sweetness comes from the alcohol and fruit. Subltle red and black fruits on the palate, with a strong overlay of charged strawberry, followed by fennel, mocha and embers. A multi layered wine that is still very young
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10/15/2017 - Barry Rothof wrote: 97 Points
Restaurant Fitzgerald (Rotterdam , NL): Intense generous nose full of fruit. On the palate a gorgeous silky texture with great weight, intense concentration and full of pure ripe fruit, earth and sweet spices. An amazing wine that keeps up lingering on the palate.
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10/13/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 90 Points
Château Rayas Vertical Dinner (Rebelle): Mild strawberry and pate des fruits on the nose. Palate is darker with wood and tannin.
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10/13/2017 - Kemo Sabe wrote: 90 Points
Given the comments in here I would have to say this was an off bottle. Similar to 2000 Pignan this had a medicinal nose with some band-aid aromas and on the palate. Young and linear. Some spice and strawberry but just nothing in the way of secondary nuance or complexity. Disappointment.
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10/12/2017 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Rayas Rayas Rayas (Rebelle): Less of a nose, but definitely all there on the palette. Lots of red currant and high acidity. Very pretty and intense. I felt like I could taste the hotter vintage here and didn't quite love it as much as the '06 and '04, but still a great wine.
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10/12/2017 - retired_and_roving wrote:
Chateau Rayas Vertical Dinner (Rebelle, NY, NY): #6/17 - Onto the main event now with the first of the Chateau Rayas Reserves. Served side by side with the '06 and '04. The ripeness of the vintage is evident here - it is he darkest in color of this flight, has a bit of alcohol and dark fruit on the nose and the palate is quite heavy in comparison. My impression if of a very herbal cherry cough syrup. My second least favorite wine of the night - I think best to avoid this vintage even from a rockstar like Rayas.
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10/7/2017 - Burgaddict wrote:
Leiden visits Fitzgerald Restaurant in Rotterdam for 50 year Anniversary: My second Rayas, and again a very special wine. Ruby colour, very aromatic nose with red fruit, sweetness, some leather. Taste full with red fruit, complex, intense, some alcohol, spices, very sensual. Elegant wine, did not know CdP could be like this.
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8/24/2017 - fatfishzsy wrote: 95 Points
香气一如既往，酸度、骨架都相当出色，糖感不高，平衡
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8/16/2017 - CamWheeler wrote: flawed
Decades of Decadence - x7s: Corked.
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6/7/2017 - KPB Likes this wine: 97 Points
I've often seen threads about what wine you would want on a desert island, etc. Well, I was away from my wine cellar for 10 months, so I can now answer the question "what wine will you drink first when you get home"?
I went with Rayas 2007 and was not sorry about this choice!
The wine is medium ruby with a soaring nose of raspberries, crème brule, leather and garrigue. The palate is light and on the tart side, unexpected for this hot, dry, vintage, again dominated by raspberry fruit, but supported by tannic firmness and with a long mineral-inflected finish. An outstanding wine, not yet fully mature, but getting there. One small nit, but an important one: I don't find that signature aroma of cannuba wax here. Maybe the hot summer drove it off. So this could pass for a wine from Charvin, for example. Given that the label says "Rayas" I was slightly let down to not have it taste as Rayas normally tastes... not a huge flaw, but the wine will never merit 100pts in my book without that specific spicy aroma one associates with this vineyard and this wine!
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5/7/2017 - Frank Schneider wrote: 97 Points
Big Ch9 tasting
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1/11/2017 - Bourgognefreak wrote: 92 Points
for its current expression this wine is much more an ordinary CdP than a Rayas. The ethereal lightness of Rayas is almost not there - there is a slight hint and maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel in 10-15 years time.
It is the most disappointing Rayas I have had and my recommendation is to wait some years before opening it - unless you like a heavy full-bodied CdP which I is at the moment a prime example of.
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1/11/2017 - UTPK wrote:
Having had Rayas in every vintage since 1998, I believe this is the heaviest, most concentrated, and unfortunately the least Rayas like rendition of this great micro climate. Seems like the heat of the vintage kills the balance of the Granache even in this cold sandy plot., something I have never encountered in Rayas before. There is jammy, plummy, thick notes of dark fruit. Just a slight resemblance of the tell tale strawberries and thyme from other vintages. The palate is also heavy with a sweet attack (OK for Rayas) but the mid palate lacks the light, burgundy-type playfulness which makes Rayas so hard to resist. Normally we finish a bottle in 30 minutes (!). This one, I had a hard time drinking up... Hopefully it will throw away the heaviness with bottle age, but it will take a looong time with all that fruit and concentration.
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12/23/2016 - Buffy the Wine Slayer wrote: 97 Points
Part of ludicrous wine day!!
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11/14/2016 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 97 Points
50th bd party
Wine no 8 & 9. 2 bottles that was quite different, the first was lively, fresh, complex that was voted WOTN, the second was a bit tight, still lovely and sexy but not quite a home run, second bottle was a 93 points at most
97
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10/28/2016 - giba ochman wrote: 97 Points
The best "modern" Rayas since 1995. Early sings of maturity. Someone knows what's happen with Rayas reserve 2010?
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9/23/2016 - d'Artagnan wrote: 90 Points
Verticale du Château Rayas (Au Petit Resto): Contrairement aux autres, celui-ci fut ouvert l'après-midi, ayant donc eu quelques heures seulement d'aération. Le nez s'en ressent, plus fermé, un peu viandeux, pas très bavard. La bouche est ronde et bien concentrée, avec une richesse atypique, il montre un équilibre structurel impeccable mais bien peu de charme. Certains évoquaient une bouteille qui aurait eu chaud, mais je ne trouvais rien qui l'indiquait dans les arômes. J'y vois plutôt un vin servi un peu trop chaud, issu d'un millésime solaire en plus, qui a besoin de temps ou de beaucoup d'air. Le potentiel du vin me semblait très grand. 90 pts ce soir, sans doute 95 + dans 5 ans, avec une longue aération.
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9/17/2016 - giba ochman Likes this wine: 96 Points
Young, a burgundy style of grenache.
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8/3/2016 - noppakit s. wrote: 97 Points
2007 Rayas : Made from 100% Grenarche, the nose is sweet, lovely sweet like a Musigny with a typical scent of Grenarche. Seductive, full of passions, baby powder and plenty of scents so dramatic. Silky, solid texture, amazing round, delicious already at this moment and can go another 20-30 years.
The No.1 Chateauneuf-de-Pape for sure.
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7/16/2016 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 97 Points
My all time favorite Rayas! Light Pinot red, stunning bouquet of raspberries, spices, sweet cherries, complex, secondary aromas coming out, truffles, after 2.5 hours classic Rayas strawberries emerged, on the palate, rich, sensual, layered, very long, full bodied with a bitter sweet finish, velvet tannins, lush, perfect balance, divine & heavenly, always a treat the 07
97
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6/20/2016 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 96 Points
Detta var något helt annat än den flaska jag drack för drygt ett år sedan. Här har vi allt man önskar av en Rayas. Underbar elegant frukt, otroligt silkig textur med en sån otrolig balans och elegans. Toppvin!
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6/4/2016 - m_arcon wrote: 93 Points
Expected a bit more. Nevertheless lots of complexity. Just a hint of heat on the back end. Will get better with more time in the cellar but not a crime to drink it now. Serve it a little bit cooler than room temperature.
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3/22/2016 - RayOB wrote: 90 Points
Drank at 67
Some barnyard on the nose which blew off after a while. A little richer than a normal Rayas but still more like a Burgundy than a CNDP. Very nice.
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2/26/2016 - rcg62 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Light color for a CDP but darker than some of the other Rayas I've seen. Looks like a Pinot. Nose really comes out of the glass; spice, raspberry, almost a candy apple note. Long finish of tart red berry. Lots of acidity. Drinking well now but I think this is better in 2018. A tiny bit of heat.
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1/15/2016 - giba ochman Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great expression of Grenache in a Burgundian style. Young, with great potential. More closed now than 2 years ago. Hold 3-5 years (94-97)
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8/22/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 98 Points
Lush, silky, fresh, sensuous, perfectly ripe, richly textured, sweet red fruits from start to finish in the nose, on the palate and in the long, lingering, finish. The perfect blend of concentration, intensity, elegance, complexity uniqueness of character. If you have the money..... This is sublime!
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8/6/2015 - dcwino wrote: 93 Points
Mostly French dinner - Rayas, 00 Lafite, 13 Trump, H Lignier CDR and etc. (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): What happened here! Noticeable fizz, is it going through secondary fermentation, lambrusco? Medium nose displaying red and black fruits, blackberry, strawberry, cherry liqueur, tobacco and animal. Hard to discern the concentration level due to noticeable fizz, dry red cherry driven palate impression and good finish that ends with a tobacco note. Upon release, it was flirting with perfection but the fizziness is a major concern now. Still enjoyable though.
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2/11/2015 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 90 Points
Dracks sida vid sida med 2007 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins . Har alltid älskat Rayas, men här hade det tyvärr inte en chans. Flaskan var nog tyvärr inte riktigt i balans. Godisaktiga toner av Hallon och körsbär. En aning spritsiga toner från start så att man misstänkte att flaskan efterjäst.
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8/8/2014 - dcwino wrote: 98 Points
Baller dinner honoring Chicago winos -- 99 La Tache, 99 Leroy RSV, 07 SE & etc (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Once again what fun and privilege to compare the 05 and 07 side by side. This is bigger and darker than the 05. Blackberries, blackberry liquor, black cherries, a hint of cherry liquor a la Rayas, licorice, lavender, gariggue, dark spices, anise and animal. Exceptional concentration, wild herb, tobacco and jammy black fruit driven palate impression, perfectly integrated tannins and long seamless finish.
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3/1/2014 - Mrbuzz wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Trelio (Clovis Ca.): Had along with the 05….which just killed this. Don't know what happened here…..very primary, candied raspberry, cherry fruit…with tons of high toned blood orange citrus (VA?) that really detracted. Lighter bodied than the 05…just a faint leather and white pepper spice….it did get slightly better as the night went on…but still…that acid?
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2/5/2014 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
With a selection of cheeses including an excellent piece of 36 month old Comté was an options wine that pretty well stumped most of the table. It was extremely ripe with a big dose of VA that punched raisin like fruit into one’s nostrils. It was loaded with raspberry jam and chocolate aromas and flavours and gained some floral nuance in the glass. It had a creamy mouthfeel and was very long. It was the 2007 Château Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape.
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2/2/2014 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Super Bowl 2014 (Roswell, GA): Denser garnet core with pale rose rim; nose initially led me to Burgundy, orange, cranberry, pomegranate, light raspberry, hints at fig and roasted fruit, very perfumed and focused; sour fruit, tart berry, subtle power, rich but good acid, dusty earth, orange, fig, herbs, not overtly sweet like Pignan or the '03, just a touch of heat on the finish; already a beautiful wine I could see this gaining some elegance with 5 more years or more but I'm not sure it would be more expressive; an extremely well crafted wine.
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1/23/2014 - Claret & CdP Gang Likes this wine: 99 Points
Color: medium red
Nose: this is my 2nd bottle of the 07 with the 1st drunk last year & the nose is gorgeous - strawberries, rose water, Provençal herbs, all in concentrated manner
Palate: amazing stuff, very ripe red fruits, silky sweet tannins, drinking so well now but will get better with age, complex, we drank this with the 95 Rayas & felt the 07 is better. This is my favourite Rayas so far having tried the 95, 99, 01 & 08.
Rated: 99
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11/28/2013 - happytom wrote: 97 Points
Just WOW!
Opened and poured a small amount. The initial pour was very light in color and taste. Looked like a Pinot Noir. Over the next three hours in gained substantial weight and color. Definitely kirsch and wassail. Nutmeg, allspice, cloves, raisins, with very strong dark raspberries. Had a hint of milk chocolate and orange peel and at some point had a bit of barnyard funk (in a good way). At the end of three hours when you expect the tannins to overpower the wine it got spicy fruity with dark chocolates. This wine will evolve for years. I am jealous of an earlier reviewer who had more bottles in his cellar as there are only 250 cases brought into the US. Would love to revisit this wine in 5 and then 10 years from now. Definitely a magical experience as to what a wine can be as expressed in Chateauneuf-du-pape.
Just WOW. Did I say that already??
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9/14/2013 - Tenuta Stefan Likes this wine: 98 Points
Perfect bottle.
Young, deep, dark, massive colour.
WOW! The bouquet knocks me of my chair! Packed with lots of sweet red and black fruit, yet you can smell the mineral and acidity. Kirsch, jam, spices, blackberry, black raspberry. I didn't expect this from this warm year. I expected an extracted wine, but this is marvelous!
Lovely on the palate! Great fruit, and amazingly balanced at this early stage. Silky, soft, exotic and intense. Very, very long.
Great potential for a perfect score in ten years.
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7/5/2013 - noppakit s. wrote: 97 Points
Not showing much scent at the moment but the promising.
Elegant, soft and very smooth. Linger finished.
Glad to have 3 bottles of this gem in the cellar.
BTW, 2010 Clos des Pape, tasting together, performed very attractive.
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5/16/2013 - Attorney Somm wrote:
Tasted double blind at Rhone varietal themed "Show Me Yours" tasting at Grailey's. Nose was very bright compared to the other 6 wines. Rose petals, red fruit. Sadly, the palate did not match. The wine had a medicinal taste and was cloyingly sweet. Almost like cherry cough syrup. 3 sommeliers who tried the wine did not believe it was defective. It was not corked, cooked, etc. Perhaps just in a bad place right now or just an off bottle. Many participants in the tasting did not want to finish their pours.
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3/17/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 97 Points
Rich, deep, concentrated and lush, the wine is packed with the perfect blend of ripe and over ripe cherries, kirsch, black raspberry jam, pepper and earth. This is silky, intense and exotic. As good as this is now, it's only going to get better with time. Rayas has one of the best track records in Chateauneuf du Pape for improving with age.
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12/9/2012 - pakabear Likes this wine: 97 Points
Wow this is good, huge expression of Grenache that is very clean yet extremely powerful. Drinking really well but I'm sure will have a long life ahead of it.
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11/19/2012 - cardsandwine Likes this wine:
Wow! Still a baby but the potential here is incredible. Drank along side the legendary 1995 Rayas and this drank better. In 4 -5 years this may turn out to be one of the greatest vintages ever for Rayas.
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6/10/2012 - dcwino wrote: 98 Points
Chateau Margaux vertical dinner with great whites and 2007 Rayas (Ruth Chris Tysons Corner, VA): Incredibly expressive nose of wild flowers and herbs, oolong tea, smoked meat, wild game anise, strawberry and raspberry. Extremely sweet red fruit palates, a hint of fizz with noticeable gaminess. The wine shows the perfectly matured fruits and not overdone, very classic youthful CDP. Just incredible showing even after all the Margauxs.
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12/3/2011 - snordhoff wrote:
Fresh off the truck from Chicago, I could not wait. Hard to write one note as this changed dramatically over the course of the evening. Not much nose at first, but the palate was full of those Rayas flavors, kirsch, sandalwood, spice, etc. After an hour the nose really opened up, spice, red fruit,etc. Later, the nose was very exotic, Indian spice, Chinese 5 spice, hard to peg. This was quite a bit different than the 2006 and should be cellared for a bit, but damn, I love Rayas.
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