2005 Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape
The Greatest, Most Collectible Chateauneuf?
The Mystique, the Magic of Rayas is Back
"The 2005 is clearly the greatest wine made at this estate since the 1995...utterly profound Chateauneuf du Pape."
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
Just to set the record straight: Rayas is back, with a vengeance.
The 2005 is perhaps the first truly spectacular Chateauneuf produced by the estate since the passing of Jacques Reynard. It is a simply explosive Chateauneuf - the 2005 Rayas is expansive, saturated with sweet dark fruits, an elegant and seemingly endless mid-palate awash with concentration and aromatics that can fill any room. Parker's notes, reproduced below, are worth reading.
The 2005 Rayas is just about the only Chateauneuf with the star power to overwhelm the 2007s. We expect demand to be very high; this is a wine that every serious RhĂ´ne collector will want in their cellar. With the legendary 1990 priced well over $1,000 a bottle, the potential for this wine is immense.
Quantities, however, are very limited and this offer is going out *only* to those of you who have supported our collectible wine program. All orders will be subject to confirmation.
Chateau Rayas truly is one of the most singular estates in France.
The vineyard, a small 10-hectare plot of sand, is one of Chateauneuf's unique terroirs and the wines it produced under Jacques Reynaud, from 1978 to 1995, remain some of the most famous Chateauneufs ever produced - not to mention some of the most expensive and collectible.
The style at Rayas has always showcased ripe, opulent fruit with simply dizzying concentrations. The old vines struggle in the sand at Rayas and Reynaud kept his yields ludicrously low - one ton per acre (that's 14 hectoliters per hectare) for the legendary 1990.
Andrew Jefford, as he often does, captures the signature here: "...hauntingly beautiful in character...fat, sweet yet savory."
For those familiar with Rayas, Jacques Reynaud's death in 1997 marked the end of an era. Reynaud had no children and though his nephew Emmanual Reynaud was brought in to fill the void and worked alongside Jacques' sister Francoise, the wines struggled to live up to their formidable reputation.
Though Emmanual's wines from the late 1990s continue to grow in reputation, there is no doubt that he has only recently brought the estate back to its former glory. It seems likely that when the history of Rayas is written, 2005 will mark the return.
As stated, quantities are extremely limited. Please give us your maximum order, though all orders are subject to confirmation. To order, email us at offers@crushwineco.com to this email or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director of Fine & Rare
Crush Wine & Spirits
Wine Advocate: "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."
Wine arrives early December
Net / No further Discounts