Château Rayas
Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône, Rhône, France
The 1995 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is served blind. I was unsure about the cleanliness of the aromatics here, although they coalesce with time, red berry fruit, singed leather and a light dried blood tincture. There's a touch of nail varnish in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a dash of balsamic, a little disjointed at first, but it gains harmony in the glass with plenty of Morello cherry and wild strawberry toward the finish. Fine, though the 2007 showed better two days earlier. Tasted at Burns & German's dinner to celebrate The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide book at Medlar. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
The 1995 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is served blind. I was unsure about the cleanliness of the aromatics here, although they coalesce with time, red berry fruit, singed leather and a light dried blood tincture. There's a touch of nail varnish in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with a dash of balsamic, a little disjointed at first, but it gains harmony in the glass with plenty of Morello cherry and wild strawberry toward the finish. Fine, though the 2007 showed better two days earlier. Tasted at Burns & German's dinner to celebrate The Complete Bordeaux Vintage Guide book at Medlar. (Neal Martin, Vinous, December 2023)
The wine has evolved much more than I thought it would. Color has dropped out significantly. Still a very good medium bodied rayas but drink now. Elegance of 100 pct Grenache still absolutely there. Drinking coche and reynauld next to eachother is a rare treat.
The wine has evolved much more than I thought it would. Color has dropped out significantly. Still a very good medium bodied rayas but drink now. Elegance of 100 pct Grenache still absolutely there. Drinking coche and reynauld next to eachother is a rare treat.
May 9th, 2021
Deep, heavy red fruity nose. Peppery and Little musty. Big fruit but not overwhelming. Acidity softens after having been open for an hour. A big beautiful wine!
Deep, heavy red fruity nose. Peppery and Little musty. Big fruit but not overwhelming. Acidity softens after having been open for an hour. A big beautiful wine!
May 17th, 2018