Wijnkooperij de Lange - unique wines from unique winemakers
Château Rayas
Family Reynaud
One of the most famous families in the southern Rhône is of course the Reynaud family. It was Albert Reynaud who bought the renowned Château Rayas in 1880 and started to exploit this beautiful domain. It was his son, Louis, who expanded the family estate with the purchases of Château Fonsalette (1945) and Château des Tours (1935). It was Louis who realised what was needed to make the best wines in the area and he passed this message on to his sons Jacques and Bernard. Château Fonsalette and Château Rayas were bequeathed to Jacques and Bernard inherited Château des Tours. Emmanuel Reynaud entered the Château des Tours in 1980. In 1989, he insisted on building his own cuverie and cellars and he ensured that the grape harvest was given a different importance in the schedule of operations. Emmanuel had worked with his uncle Jacques and had seen how work was done at the famous Château Rayas. The style of winemaking has been managed by the children of Emmanuel on all the Chateaux since the death of Emmanuel Reynaud. This means small yields (20hl/ha!), very late harvesting, no égrappage, regular remounting and maturation in concrete vats followed by a few months in old wooden barrels. After a light filtration the wines are bottled. The wines of the family Reynaud are exclusively available on allocation and only for residents of The Netherlands. Website: www.chateaurayas.fr
Emmanuel Reynaud († 2025)
Emmanuel Reynaud was responsible for Château des Tours for over 30 years, and since 1997 also for Château Rayas and Château Fonsalette. A winemaker with an enormous personality and philosophy. Naturally trained by his uncle Jacques, but with his own distinct vision. Until 1988, the grapes from Château des Tours were sold to the cooperative; he became responsible at a young age, and the construction of the cellar in 1989 marked a significant step. In fact, Château des Tours serves as a breeding ground for Château Rayas. Here, Emmanuel studied the effects of a specific working method in the vineyard, during planting, and during vinification. If this proved successful and satisfactory, he could later apply it to the wines of Château Rayas. For several years, he has been assisted by his sons Benoit and Louis-Damien; they will bear responsibility for the family estates and take the wines to an even higher level.
Château des Tours
Probably one of the finest Vacqueras' that is made. The composition of the grapes is 80% grenache and 20% syrah. As with the Côtes du Rhône, large casks are used. In the aroma, notes of candied red fruit, cherries and herbs. The taste is quite rich with silky tannins and an impressive long aftertaste.
| Producent | Appellation | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Château des Tours | Vacqueras | Rich & Exuberant |
| Oak aging | Vineyard management | Format |
| Yes | Practising organics | 750 ml |
Château des Tours
Probably one of the most beautiful Côtes du Rhône that is made. With the use of large casks and respect for the terroir, this leads in the nose to notes of strawberry jam, cherries and herbs. The taste is quite rich with silky tannins and an impressive long aftertaste.
| Producent | Appellation | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Château des Tours | Côtes du Rhône | Rich & Exuberant |
| Oak aging | Vineyard management | Format |
| Yes | Practising organics | 750 ml |
Château Fonsalette
Chteau Fonsalette is a wine that completely fits in with the style of the other wines from the hand of Emmanuel Reynaud. Refined aroma with lots of spiciness, jam and sweet wood. Soft elegant taste with refined tannins.
| Producent | Appellation | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Château Fonsalette | Côtes du Rhône | Rich & Exuberant |
| Oak aging | Vineyard management | Format |
| Yes | Practising organics | 750 ml |
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.
| Producent | Appellation | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Château Rayas | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | Rich & Exuberant |
| Oak aging | Vineyard management | Format |
| Yes | Practising organics | 750 ml |
Domaine des Tours
This beautiful mature wine is transparent in colour and has a ripe, full-bodied aroma. Spiciness and candied fruit clearly emerge in the nose. The taste is beautifully ripe and developed.
| Producent | Appellation | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Château des Tours | IGP Vaucluse | Rich & Exuberant |
| Oak aging | Vineyard management | Format |
| Yes | Practising organics | 750 ml |
Domaine des Tours
The wine immediately gives flowers like acacia and spices like lavender in the aroma. The taste is intense and striking with refined acids and a long aftertaste.
| Producent | Appellation | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Château des Tours | IGP Vaucluse | Rich & Exuberant |
| Oak aging | Vineyard management | Format |
| Yes | Practising organics | 750 ml |
Les Tours
The wine has a lot of floral notes like acacia and a certain spiciness. The taste is rich and intense with a striking presence and a long aftertaste.
| Producent | Appellation | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Château des Tours | IGP Vaucluse | Rich & Exuberant |
| Oak aging | Vineyard management | Format |
| Yes | Practising organics | 750 ml |
Pignan
Just like Chteau Rayas, Pignan is a unique wine. Pignan is also light in colour and has a scent that is recognisable out of thousands. Light red fruit and jam and a very refined spiciness. Made from the northern vineyards and therefore certainly not a second wine.
| Producent | Appellation | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Château Rayas | Châteauneuf-du-Pape | Rich & Exuberant |
| Oak aging | Vineyard management | Format |
| Yes | Practising organics | 750 ml |
French Wines
Many famous and very special wines are made in France. It is perhaps the wine country with the greatest wines and grapes. From the north east to the border with Spain, wines are made from many different grape varieties. Wine is part of the country's culture and a meal without wine is unthinkable here. French wine regions such as Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône, Loire, Alsace, Jura and Languedoc are just a few of the unique wine regions that can be found in the country.
French red wine
The main grapes for red wine in France are, without wanting to discredit any other grape variety: pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah. Pinot noir is the grape variety of Burgundy and great French wines such as Volnay, Pommard, Corton and Clos de Vougeot are made from this grape variety. Cabernet sauvignon and merlot are mainly planted in Bordeaux, the region of Saint-Emilion and Margaux. Finally, Syrah is the basis for the great wines from the northern Rhône, such as the famous wines Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage.
French White Wine
White wines are of course made throughout the country, but the most important areas for white wine are Loire, Burgundy and Alsace. Three wine regions located further north in France. Here, French wine is made from well-known grape varieties such as chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot gris and riesling, but also from lesser-known varieties such as aligoté, chasselas, gewurztraminer and melon de bourgogne. Chardonnay is the basis for the white wines from Burgundy and in the Loire there are fine examples of the sauvignon grape from Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, for example.
French sparkling wines
In addition to the still wines, France is of course known for the sparkling wines that are made in Champagne, of course, but also in the Loire, Jura, Alsace and Burgundy. In Champagne, chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier form the basis of sparkling wines made with the classic second fermentation in the bottle. We offer you several sparkling wines from France, most of which are certified organic and are perfect as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to various dishes.