Château Rayas

No wine can be compared to Chteau Rayas, certainly not the wines from the appellation. Most of them are characterised by the use of wood. Rayas is light in colour and has a smell that is recognisable out of thousands. Light red fruit and confiture and a very refined spiciness.

Appellation Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Grape variety grenache

Style Rich & Exuberant

Format 750 ml

On allocation

The winemaker

Winemaker	Country	Region
Château Rayas	France	Rhône - Meriodanales

About the winemaker The total area of this estate is 23 hectares, of which 12 are vineyards. The late Jacques Reynaud was known for his terroir driven wines and this is also true of his protégé Emmanuel. Always he and his équipe can be found in the family's various vineyards at Château des Tours, Château Fonsalette or Château Rayas. The terroir of Chateau Rayas differs from the image that many people have with this appellation. Here it is not the large pebbles that are often talked about, but a sandy terroir with calcareous rocks in the deep underlayer. Emmanuel Reynaud is convinced that the vineyards should be managed as naturally as possible and he is more than precise in determining the timing of the harvest. Yields of less than 20 hl/ha are therefore the rule rather than the exception.

Vineyard management Practising organics

Details

Vineyard	The terroir of Rayas consists of 15 different parcels found in three different vineyards: Le Couchant, Le Coeur and Levant. The vineyards have a strongly sandy soil and are protected all around by trees. The sand has a deep red color and has a very fine grain.
Vinification	The Reynaud family's cellars harbor much tradition. The best kept is the fact that Emmanuel Reynaud is averse to the use of new wood and that as little intervention as possible is made during the upbringing. The mostly large barrels are sometimes more than 80 years old and give the wines their unique character. In these barrels, the wines stay for a minimum of 16 months before being bottled. After bottling, the wines often stay in the domain's cellar for years.

Oak aging	Yes
Ageing potential	20 years after harvest
Alcohol percentage	13.5%
Closure	Natural cork