Wine Advisor
Rayas, Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve 2001
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The three component parts of the 2001 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape range from light to medium ruby in color. All possess excellent sweetness, beautiful kirsch liqueur and strawberry fruit notes, plenty of glycerin, and a velvety-textured, ripe, concentrated mouthfeel. It is unquestionably an outstanding Rayas, but it does not appear that it will ever merit a score higher than the low nineties. It will be ready to drink early in life, and should age for 10-15 years, much like such vintages as 1999 and 1994. A disclaimer is in order concerning the following tasting notes. While the bottled 2000s were easy to taste, the 2001 barrel tastings at Rayas were challenging because there was no electricity in the cellars. Rayas was one of many estates where electricity had been cut off by the floods of September 8 and 9. Hence, the tasting was conducted by flashlight ... a first in my 25 years of experience. It was hard to get a grasp of the barrel samples' colors when viewed by flashlight, but they appeared to be light to medium ruby. However, darkly pigmented wines are rarely produced at this domaine. There have been some deep-colored vintages of Rayas (1995, 1990, and 1989), but most are surprisingly weak in color, yet intense in flavor. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Martine's Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2001 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape is more structured and slightly deeper ruby-colored than the light-colored 2000. It also possesses more acidity as well as depth. This terroir-driven effort reveals aromas of raspberries and sweet kirsch as well as a medium-bodied, vigorously fresh, lively style. There is also good flavor authority. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and consume it over the following 15. Like most Chateauneuf du Pape domaines, I did not see anything while tasting through the 2002 reds that would suggest they could be recommended in this publication. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
About the Producer
Back in 1880, General Albert Reynaud bought Chateau Rayas in the Rhone Valley. It is now run by Emmanuel Reynaud. The Reynaud family has owned the estate for over 120 years. For four generations, the Reynaud family has worked hard to transform the estate from a small, unknown winery to a leading Rhone Valley winery. When Château Rayas was first purchased by Albert Reynaud, it had a small, unassuming vineyard on sandy, north-facing soils that were not well insulated or sunlit. Today the estate has 25 hectares of vineyards and the vines are on average 35 years old. The success of the estate is due to the persistence and innovation of its owners. Originally, the tradition in the Chateauneuf-du-Pape region was to make wine from a mix of grape varieties, but Mr Albert Renaud took a different approach and abandoned the tradition of using a mix of grapes in Chateauneuf-du-Pape to make wine from local Grenache grapes and a small amount of Syrah. The result is a top-notch Chateauneuf-du-Pape red wine (Chateau Rayas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape) that overcomes all its shortcomings. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is matured in old barrels for 2-3 years before being released to the market and is produced in very low yields, at a price that is the best in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape region. It is highly regarded by the public: the 1996 vintage was awarded 98 points by the Wine Spectator in 2006, the highest score in the appellation that year. The 2005 and 2003 vintages were also rated 98 and 95 points respectively by Parker. Château Rayas sells its wines under the name "Château Rayas", but also under the names "Château de Fonsalette" and "Pignan". Pignan Chateauneuf du Pape. The wines of Chateauneuf du Pape are comparable to those of Château de Fonsalette. The red wines of Château de Rothschild are smooth and elegant, while the white wines are fresh and have a long lasting aroma. The red wines of Château Fonsalie are full-bodied and ripe, while the white wines have aromas of nectarine and apricot. In the Renault family, which is aimed at the top end of the market, the Pinot is the second wine of Château Rijas and has a similar style to the main Rijas, with a medium body, attractive black cherry and fig flavours and a sweet taste.
