2005 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve
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Tasting notes
Full bottle 1,321 g. Very pale shaded ruby-rust – if anything, paler than the Fonsalette 2005! More introvert on the nose but much deeper-flavoured on the palate than the Fonsalette 2005 – richer, sweeter and more concentrated. What a pleasure! Pure transparent pleasure with a great, delicate balance for fruit and freshness. Long. So vibrant, especially on the finish, but this is a good time to drink this wine. (JR)
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Having followed the 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve from barrel and tasted it several times in bottle, this tasting reaffirmed it as a hallmark Rayas, arguably the finest during the late Emmanuel Reynaud's stewardship of the domaine. The nose is quintessential Rayas: an exuberant burst of kirsch layered with stemmy nuances, dried rosemary, sage and a medley of dried red fruits. On the full-bodied palate it shows energy and concentration in a seamless frame of silky tannins, which are remarkably refined within the context of a vintage otherwise marked by edgier textures. The finale is long, spicy and superbly poised with effortless balance. Slowly entering its prime drinking window, the 2005 Rayas promises at least two more decades of pleasure. This bottle was opened six hours in advance without decanting.
Full bottle 1,329 g. Shaded orange. Complex nose: briary with some very fine tannin evident. No hurry to drink this. Very sweet start and still girding its skirts around it. (JR)
The 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape has the unenviable task of following the 1990 and does with some chutzpah. A cornucopia of scents: brambly red fruit, Kalamata olives, black pepper, Seville orange marmalade and fresh-picked fennel. Whereas the 1990 has reached its aromatic peak, you feel as if this has more in reserve. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a satin-like texture with fine depth. Seamless, harmonious and sensual, there is a trace of rosemary and sage towards its precise finish. You could almost describe this as “clinical,” yet that would be a disservice to its personality and charm.
About the producer
Ch. Rayas is a cult name in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wines – pure, silken expressions of Grenache with distinctive perfume – are revered for their singularity and fiercely collected. Made by Emmanuel Reynaud and renowned for their ageability, they have become some of the region's most sought-after.