Chateau Rayas Chateaneuf-du-Pape Reserve 2005

  • 97 Robert
    Parker
2,999 99
2599 99
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Chateau Rayas Chateaneuf-du-Pape Reserve 2005  Front Bottle Shot
Chateau Rayas Chateaneuf-du-Pape Reserve 2005  Front Bottle Shot Chateau Rayas Chateaneuf-du-Pape Reserve 2005 Front Label

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2005

Size
750ML

Features
Collectible

Boutique

Green Wine

Your Rating

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Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

"There are no signs on the dusty, narrow, dirt roads of Southern Rhône's Châteauneuf-du-Pape directing you to Château Rayas," writes Per-Henrik Mansson. "That's no accident. The late Louis Reynaud and his late son, Jacques, used to do all they could to keep unsolicited visitors at bay. Now, Louis' grandson, Emmanuel Reynaud, is doing his part to uphold the tradition."

According to Stephen Tanzer, "Emmanuel Reynaud has quickly shown himself to be a worthy caretaker of this fabled estate's superb holdings and a flexible, non-interventionist vinifier." A young Rayas displays a grip of fruit and tannins, but it's born with a surprising midpalate fatness -- what the French call "gras." In top years, the wine has the staying power to improve just as much as some of France's finest crus. It has been said that Rayas can transcend, in top years, its Southern Rhône roots to achieve the finesse and ethereal balance of a velvety Pinot Noir.

Rayas' rustic look not only reflects the owners' dislike for the trendy, it advertises their commitment to tradition. This philosophy comes through in the wine: In bad or good vintages, it tastes genuine. In a world of sameness, the Reynaud family makes a wine that's idiosyncratic even by the local standards of Châteauneuf. Rayas is unusual because its vineyards face mostly north (less heat, thus more finesse). It's also unusual because the wine is 100% Grenache. (Rayas has 27 acres planted to this varietal.) It helps that the vines are relatively old -- between 15 and 60 years, according to Emmanuel.

Finally, Rayas harvests late, sometimes very late. "That's the game we've always played in the family: We want ripe fruit, and we'll pick late if necessary," said Emmanuel. "You must know how to take risks. To win, you must be ready to lose."

Professional Ratings

  • 97
    I could not resist retasting the 2005 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape. Until the 2007 is in bottle, the 2005 is clearly the greatest wine made at this estate since the 1995. Made from 100% Grenache, it boasts an unusually (for Rayas) dark ruby/purple-tinged color as well as an exceptionally sweet bouquet of black cherry jam, truffles, incense, licorice, and raspberries. Full-bodied with a stunningly rich, concentrated mouthfeel, an explosive mid-palate, and a finish that lasts more than a minute, it is a wine of superb power and intensity admirably displaying the terroir’s hallmark delicacy and ethereal nature. This utterly profound Chateauneuf du Pape should drink beautifully for 25+ years.

Other Vintages

2011
  • 94 Vinous
2010
  • 97 Robert
    Parker
  • 96 Vinous
2009
  • 98 Robert
    Parker
  • 97 Jeb
    Dunnuck
2007
  • 98 Robert
    Parker
2006
  • 99 Decanter
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
  • 93 Robert
    Parker
2003
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
2001
  • 92 Robert
    Parker
1995
  • 98 Wine
    Spectator
  • 96 Robert
    Parker
1994
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
1993
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
1990
  • 100 Robert
    Parker
1989
  • 97 Robert
    Parker
Chateau Rayas

Chateau Rayas

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With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.

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Famous for its full-bodied, seductive and spicy reds with flavor and aroma characteristics reminiscent of black cherry, baked raspberry, garrigue, olive tapenade, lavender and baking spice, Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the leading sub-appellation of the southern Rhône River Valley. Large pebbles resembling river rocks, called "galets" in French, dominate most of the terrain. The stones hold heat and reflect it back up to the low-lying gobelet-trained vines. Though the galets are typical, they are not prominent in every vineyard. Chateau Rayas is the most obvious deviation with very sandy soil.

According to law, eighteen grape varieties are allowed in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and most wines are blends of some mix of these. For reds, Grenache is the star player with Mourvedre and Syrah coming typically second. Others used include Cinsault, Counoise and occasionally Muscardin, Vaccarèse, Picquepoul Noir and Terret Noir.

Only about 6-7% of wine from Châteauneuf-du-Pape is white wine. Blends and single-varietal bottlings are typically based on the soft and floral Grenache Blanc but Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne are grown with some significance.

The wine of Chateauneuf-du-Pape takes its name from the relocation of the papal court to Avignon. The lore says that after moving in 1309, Pope Clément V (after whom Chateau Pape-Clément in Pessac-Léognan is named) ordered that vines were planted. But it was actually his successor, John XXII, who established the vineyards. The name however, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, translated as "the pope's new castle," didn’t really stick until the 19th century.

NDY100208_2005 Item# 100208

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