Chateau Rayas

"From the sandy terroir, to the ethereal style of Grenache, Château Rayas is an estate unlike any other in the Southern Rhône appellation." — William Kelley

One of the iconic names of French wine, whose remarkable finesse to the wine justifies why some call it ‘Burgundy from the South’. Planted with 100% grenache, much of the estate is unusual: northeastern exposure, pine tree-lined vineyards, and sandy soils create a completely unique microclimate. With naturally low yields, they are always one of the last properties to harvest to ensure peak levels of ripeness while still obtaining remarkable freshness, intense purity of flavor, and unparalleled silky textures.

Chateau Rayas: Reynaud Family History

Chateau Rayas' unique nature can be traced back to its unusual beginnings in 1880, when Albert Reynaud quit his notary office job after losing his hearing at 45 years old. Understanding he could no longer work in a corporate setting, Reynaud followed his passion for wine and purchased a 13-hectare vineyard in Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Following 40 years of leadership, Albert passed ownership to his son, Louis, who greatly expanded Rayas wines' reputation across France. Louis bottled the wine under "Premier Grand Cru," an illegal move that allowed the bottles to gain notoriety in the country. Furthermore, he focused on developing business operations locally and nationally, eventually purchasing Chateau de Fonsalette and Pialade Cotes du Rhone.

With multiple decades under its belt and new chateaux in the family, Chateau Rayas remained one of the top estates in the Rhone Valley when Jacques Reynaud became the new owner in 1978. Jacques was known as a feisty character who struggled to get along with outsiders, strictly sticking to family winemaking techniques and keeping closed off from the public. Unfortunately, he unexpectedly passed away in 1997 with no heirs, leaving his nephew and current owner, Emmanuel Reynaud, to take over. During his first few years, Emmanuel struggled as many renovations were necessary at Chateau Rayas. However, once the young winemaker found his footing, Rayas once again blossomed into a thriving estate, re-establishing its position as one of Chateauneuf-du-Pape's most sought-after wines. 

Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Terroir

Rayas' 30-hectare vineyard is set in the south of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, containing a micro-terroir unique to the rest of the appellation. The vineyard is surrounded by forests on all sides, with pine and oak trees across the territory. Unlike other Chateauneuf vineyards, Chateau Rayas has none of the region's famous 'galets roules' (rounded stones) and instead contains red, iron-rich sandy soils with small amounts of limestone and clay. These sandy soils are very poor, forcing the vines to struggle and produce fruit of great finesse. Combined with the area's humidity and cool temperature, the soils retain lots of moisture, forcing Rayas to plant vines at a low density- only 2,500 vines per hectare.

The vineyard is split into different plots, with fruit from each sector making its way into different blends. Grenache is by far the dominant variety on the land, though there is some clairette grown for Chateau Rayas Blanc, the estate's white wine. While there are eight plots in total, the three main ones are as follows:

• Le Levant
• Le Coeur
• Le Couchant

The best fruit from all plots is reserved for the flagship Chateau Rayas Reserve, a 100% grenache that has made a reputation as one of the world's greatest expressions of the variety. A second wine, Rayas Pignan, receives 20% of each harvest's production and is treated as a unique wine rather than a second label. Because the Reynaud family is forced to produce low yields each vintage, only 1,200-1,500 cases are produced annually for the flagship, making these bottles some of the most difficult to acquire for collectors. Furthermore, Rayas Pignan sees only 650 cases released to the public and a staggering 42 cases for Rayas Blanc. 

Overall, Chateau Rayas' distinct terroir lends itself to creating one of Chateauneuf-du-Pape's most coveted wines and has even led critics to playfully claim that the Chateau deserves its own appellation.

Rayas Wine: Top Vintages

As one of the world's best grenache wines, multiple Rayas wines have garnered mass acclaim from respected critics and seasoned enthusiasts. From older vintages like the 1990 Chateau Rayas, which Robert Parker claimed was "the most prized wine in [his] personal collection," to newer releases from the past 10-15 years, Emmanuel Reynaud continues to ensure that each wine is crafted to perfection. 

Chateau Rayas 2010

Now 15 years old, the 2010 Chateau Rayas Reserve is in its prime drinking window and one of the most celebrated releases from Chateauneuf-du-Pape from the last decade. The bottle was rated a perfect 100-point score by Vinous Media, with the publication stating the wine was "a modern-day benchmark, radiating its pedigree and class far beyond the Rhône Valley." The silky tannins, elegant mouthfeel, and fruit-forward palate separate this wine from others in the same vintage.

Chateau Rayas 1995

Only 1,000 cases of the 1995 Chateau Rayas Reserve were made, adding to the estate's mythical and elusive nature. The wine received 98-point scores from Robert Parker and Jeb Dunnuck, who were each amazed by the raspberry and spice aromas, full-bodied mouthfeel, and "candy-like" flavors. 30 years after its creation, this is a Rhone Grenache any collector should want in their cellar.

Chateau Rayas Price

The price of a Chateau Rayas wine can be seen as hefty for some, though the estate's decades-long consistency, regular acclaim, and low production are factors behind the cost. Since the late 19th century, the Chateau has proven itself to craft one of the greatest grenaches from not only the Rhone, but the world. As the Reynaud family continues their legacy at Chateau Rayas, discerning collectors should be keen to grab a bottle for their personal collection and enjoy each sip with the utmost pleasure.