COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
1995
GRAPE
Grenache
PRODUCER
Château Rayas
REGION
Rhône
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium
Finish
Long
Intensity
Pronounced
Tannins
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Château Rayas is one of the most legendary and mythical estates in the wine world, located in the Southern Rhône valley. Under the eccentric and late Jacques Reynaud, and now his nephew Emmanuel Reynaud, the estate has maintained an ultra-traditional, low-profile approach. Unlike almost all other Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines which are blends of multiple varieties, Rayas is famously crafted from 100% Grenache grown in a unique, cool, north-facing pine-sheltered vineyard with very sandy soils. This terroir yields a wine of unparalleled elegance, pale color, and haunting aromatic complexity, often compared to Grand Cru Burgundy rather than typical robust Southern Rhône reds. The 1995 vintage is widely considered an absolute masterpiece of the decade.
ALCOHOL
14.0%
AVG. PRICE
€2000
STYLE
Classic
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Unlike almost all Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, Château Rayas is made from 100% Grenache.
Fact 02
The estate's unique sandy soils lack the famous 'galets roulés' (large stones) found throughout most of the appellation.
Fact 03
The vineyards are north-facing and surrounded by pine forests, creating a cool microclimate that preserves acidity.
Fact 04
The late winemaker Jacques Reynaud was famous for hiding from journalists and unscheduled visitors in his cellars.
FOOD PAIRING
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WINE MAKING PROCESS
The winemaking at Château Rayas is famously low-tech and traditional. Grapes are harvested very late to achieve optimal ripeness. Fermentation takes place in old, neutral double-foudres and demi-muids, with minimal intervention. The wine is aged for approximately 12 to 16 months in these ancient oak casks, which impart virtually no oak flavor, preserving the pure, ethereal expression of the Grenache grape and the sandy terroir. No destemming is practiced, and the wine is bottled without filtration.
