Vinous (90)

Medium ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of baked strawberry and nuts. Sweet, sappy flavors of roasted red fruits. Large-scaled, concentrated wine with impressive volume and intriguing inner-mouth perfume. Finishes with dusty tannins and a peppery nuance.

Vinous (94)

Vivid red. Intensely perfumed, expressive aromas of red and dark berry compote, smoky minerals and incense, along with a deep note of black cardamom. Palate-saturating raspberry and kirsch flavors are complicated by suggestions of licorice pastille and candied lavender, with silky tannins adding support. Becomes sappier with air and finishes with excellent clarity and mineral-laced red fruit character.

Vinous (94)

Bright ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red fruit and floral aromas are complicated by notes of Asian spices and minerals. Extremely fresh on the palate, offering nervy redcurrant and raspberry flavors and a strong spicy underpinning. A zesty note of blood orange comes up with air and adds a tangy edge to the long, precise, floral-accented finish. A very sexy wine that's surprisingly approachable now, especially compared to its big brother.

Vinous (94)

Bright ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red fruit and floral aromas are complicated by notes of Asian spices and minerals. Extremely fresh on the palate, offering nervy redcurrant and raspberry flavors and a strong spicy underpinning. A zesty note of blood orange comes up with air and adds a tangy edge to the long, precise, floral-accented finish. A very sexy wine that's surprisingly approachable now, especially compared to its big brother.

Vinous (92-94)

Deep red. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of fresh red berries, lavender and Indian spices, plus a touch of olive. Sappy and precise, with very good lift and clarity to its black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. Puts on weight with air and finishes sappy, penetrating and very long, with slow-building tannins. Quite rich and powerful for this bottling but still elegant.

Vinous (92-94)

Deep red. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of fresh red berries, lavender and Indian spices, plus a touch of olive. Sappy and precise, with very good lift and clarity to its black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. Puts on weight with air and finishes sappy, penetrating and very long, with slow-building tannins. Quite rich and powerful for this bottling but still elegant.

Vinous (92-94)

Vivid red. Displays expansive, spice- and mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry and blueberry, along with suggestions of white pepper and lavender oil. Stains the palate with intense red and dark berry flavors, showing a suave blend of power and energy. Quiet rich for this bottling, finishing with excellent thrust, supple tannins and a hint of smokiness lingering.

Vinous (90+)

Good deep red. Deeper aromas of black cherry, raspberry, pepper and licorice. Broad-shouldered but very closed, showing less sweetness today than the '96 Pignan. Red fruit flavors complicated by notes of leather, licorice and herbs. Strong acid/tannin backbone for aging. But tough going today.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (91-93)

Two component cuvées tasted.Cuvée #1 (20- to 30-year-old vines picked late): Medium red. Explosive aromas of raspberry liqueur, fresh cherry and smoke. Very rich, almost liqueur-like, with hints of leather and game. Impressively ripe and deep. Has sound acidity and a firm tannic underpinning.Cuvée #2 (from a higher percentage of older vines, picked earlier): Deeper red. Much less forthcoming on the nose. More intensely flavored and powerful, with excellent grip and structure for the year. Strong peppery quality in the mouth and on the aftertaste. Tannins are substantial but ripe. A robust sample. The combination of these two cuvées should produce a strong wine.

Vinous (91+)

Medium red-ruby. Smoky redcurrant nose, with hints of game, leather and pepper; surmuri notes of dried fruits. Fat but quite fine; less sweet and fruit-driven today than the Pignan but more complex, more serious. This has solid structure for aging. The Pignan always tastes better young than Rayas, Reynaud points out.

Vinous (91+)

Medium red-ruby. Smoky redcurrant nose, with hints of game, leather and pepper; surmuri notes of dried fruits. Fat but quite fine; less sweet and fruit-driven today than the Pignan but more complex, more serious. This has solid structure for aging. The Pignan always tastes better young than Rayas, Reynaud points out.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2003 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape has gone from strength to strength and now looks to be the finest vintage since the monumental 1995. Deep ruby to the rim with that classic Rayas nose of flowers, kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, crushed rocks, and minerals, the wine is dense and concentrated, with a broad, savory mouthfeel, sweet yet silky tannin, fabulous persistence, and a blockbuster finish that just goes on and on. This is a reassuringly profound Rayas that seems to suggest that Emmanuel Reynaud has finally figured out this cold-climate terroir in a warm climate appellation. This wine should be given 3-4 years of bottle age, and drunk over the following 20+ years.

Vinous (94)

Medium red. Stunning floral and red berry aromas emphasize raspberry, strawberry and fresh lavender. Bright, focused and pure, with vibrant red fruit and mineral flavors given an exotic twist by a hint of dried apricot. The sweet finish leaves a strong floral pastille impression. The freshness and precision of this wine are really captivating.

Vinous (94)

Medium red. Stunning floral and red berry aromas emphasize raspberry, strawberry and fresh lavender. Bright, focused and pure, with vibrant red fruit and mineral flavors given an exotic twist by a hint of dried apricot. The sweet finish leaves a strong floral pastille impression. The freshness and precision of this wine are really captivating.

Decanter (98)

A stunning, fresh perfume of orange rind, bright mint and strawberry jam. Plump, round and silky in the mouth, the rich alcohol and glycerol is matched by perfectly balanced acidity. Ethereal, bright, long and with so much personality; a beautiful, classic Rayas, which was opened 24 hours in advance of tasting.

Decanter (98)

A stunning, fresh perfume of orange rind, bright mint and strawberry jam. Plump, round and silky in the mouth, the rich alcohol and glycerol is matched by perfectly balanced acidity. Ethereal, bright, long and with so much personality; a beautiful, classic Rayas, which was opened 24 hours in advance of tasting.

Decanter (98)

A stunning, fresh perfume of orange rind, bright mint and strawberry jam. Plump, round and silky in the mouth, the rich alcohol and glycerol is matched by perfectly balanced acidity. Ethereal, bright, long and with so much personality; a beautiful, classic Rayas, which was opened 24 hours in advance of tasting.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2009 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape is an awesome example of elegance combined with extraordinary power. The alcohol levels must be between 15.5% and 16%, but the elegance and sublime nature of this wine make it irresistible. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of framboise, black cherry liqueur intermixed with blacker fruits, licorice and a hint of flowers. Pure with terrific layers of fruit concentration (although it's remarkably light on its feet), silky tannins, well-integrated acidity and a stunning personality, this monumental Rayas is breathtaking. This beauty will undoubtedly be drinkable early on (although Emmanuel Reynaud considers that to be infanticide), and it is capable of lasting 25-30 years. One of the world's most mysterious estates is Chateau Rayas. This small 30-acre estate is owned by the Reynaud family, which dates back to the late 19th century,. The estate has always had an image of secrecy and seclusion. Following the death of Jacques Reynaud in 1997, his nephew, Emmanuel took over, and he continues to produce wines that go from strength to strength. A cool climate property in a hot zone, Rayas is tucked away in a forest with its vineyards basically one parcel of sandy soil. Emmanuel Reynaud, who is also the proprietor of the outstanding Vacqueyras estate called Domaine des Tours, has the same eccentric idiosyncracies as his uncle. It is not as difficult to get an appointment to visit Rayas as many people think, and I highly recommend it as it is always a fascinating place to visit. After 25 years, I never cease to be amazed by what emerges from these decrepit, old, haphazard cellars that look like a biohazard room in a video game. They don't win the top prize for the dirtiest cellars in Chateauneuf du Pape (that goes to Henri Bonneau), but Rayas is a close second. Modern-day oenology graduates would be horrified by -working conditions,- but the magic elixirs to emerge from these ancient barrels, demi-muids and foudres are wondrous. On this trip, I tasted through the component parts of the 2010s, another top vintage for Rayas. Production was tiny, and the harvest was extremely late. In fact, Emmanuel Reynaud told me that 2011 would be at least ten days in advance of 2010. The 2009s, which have all been bottled, have turned out to be spectacular, and I tend to think the 2009 Rayas could turn out to be the greatest wine made by Emmanuel, even eclipsing the 2007.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2009 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape is an awesome example of elegance combined with extraordinary power. The alcohol levels must be between 15.5% and 16%, but the elegance and sublime nature of this wine make it irresistible. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of framboise, black cherry liqueur intermixed with blacker fruits, licorice and a hint of flowers. Pure with terrific layers of fruit concentration (although it's remarkably light on its feet), silky tannins, well-integrated acidity and a stunning personality, this monumental Rayas is breathtaking. This beauty will undoubtedly be drinkable early on (although Emmanuel Reynaud considers that to be infanticide), and it is capable of lasting 25-30 years. One of the world's most mysterious estates is Chateau Rayas. This small 30-acre estate is owned by the Reynaud family, which dates back to the late 19th century,. The estate has always had an image of secrecy and seclusion. Following the death of Jacques Reynaud in 1997, his nephew, Emmanuel took over, and he continues to produce wines that go from strength to strength. A cool climate property in a hot zone, Rayas is tucked away in a forest with its vineyards basically one parcel of sandy soil. Emmanuel Reynaud, who is also the proprietor of the outstanding Vacqueyras estate called Domaine des Tours, has the same eccentric idiosyncracies as his uncle. It is not as difficult to get an appointment to visit Rayas as many people think, and I highly recommend it as it is always a fascinating place to visit. After 25 years, I never cease to be amazed by what emerges from these decrepit, old, haphazard cellars that look like a biohazard room in a video game. They don't win the top prize for the dirtiest cellars in Chateauneuf du Pape (that goes to Henri Bonneau), but Rayas is a close second. Modern-day oenology graduates would be horrified by -working conditions,- but the magic elixirs to emerge from these ancient barrels, demi-muids and foudres are wondrous. On this trip, I tasted through the component parts of the 2010s, another top vintage for Rayas. Production was tiny, and the harvest was extremely late. In fact, Emmanuel Reynaud told me that 2011 would be at least ten days in advance of 2010. The 2009s, which have all been bottled, have turned out to be spectacular, and I tend to think the 2009 Rayas could turn out to be the greatest wine made by Emmanuel, even eclipsing the 2007.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Showing more finesse and elegance than the Pignan, yet still with plenty of density and concentration, the 2010 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is a sensational effort from this estate that has a kaleidoscope-like array of framboise, darker cherries, sappy flowers, garrigue, and spice. Opening up beautifully with time in the glass as well, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, silky tannins, and a great finish. Reminding me slightly of the 1990, it is heavenly today and will be heavenly in another 15+ years as well.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Showing more finesse and elegance than the Pignan, yet still with plenty of density and concentration, the 2010 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is a sensational effort from this estate that has a kaleidoscope-like array of framboise, darker cherries, sappy flowers, garrigue, and spice. Opening up beautifully with time in the glass as well, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, silky tannins, and a great finish. Reminding me slightly of the 1990, it is heavenly today and will be heavenly in another 15+ years as well.

Jeb Dunnuck (98)

Showing more finesse and elegance than the Pignan, yet still with plenty of density and concentration, the 2010 Châteauneuf Du Pape Reserve is a sensational effort from this estate that has a kaleidoscope-like array of framboise, darker cherries, sappy flowers, garrigue, and spice. Opening up beautifully with time in the glass as well, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, silky tannins, and a great finish. Reminding me slightly of the 1990, it is heavenly today and will be heavenly in another 15+ years as well.