chateau rayas chateauneuf-du-pape

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CHATEAU RAYAS
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
FACT SHEET
OWNER
Françoise Reynaud, the late Jacques Reynaud's sister, and Emmanuel Reynaud, their nephew.
PRODUCTS
White wines :
Côtes-du-Rhône (Blanc), Château de Fonsalette
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Blanc), Pignan
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Blanc), Château Rayas
Red wines :
Cotes du Rhone (rouge) La Pialade
Côtes-du-Rhône (Rouge), Château de Fonsalette
Côtes-du-Rhône (Rouge), Cuvée Syrah, Château de Fonsalette
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Rouge), Pignan
Châteauneuf-du-Pape (Rouge), Château Rayas
SIZE OF THE VINEYARDS
13 Hectares of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
12 Hectares of Côtes-du-Rhône
LOCATION OF THE VINEYARDS
The Château Rayas vineyards are to be found near the cellars up a dirt road about 2 miles north
of Châteauneuf-du-Pape behind Château Vaudieu. The Côtes-du-Rhône vineyards of Chateau de
Fonsalette are at Lagarde-Paréol (near Suze-la-Rousse and Sainte-Cecile-les-Vignes). Jacques
Reynaud believed that great wine produced so far south must come from north facing slopes.
This is the case at Rayas. Because of the cool microclimate and "terroir", Rayas is usually the
last to harvest at Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
SOIL
At Rayas the red soil is finer than in most of the vineyards of the appellation with a sand base
and smaller pebbles.
GRAPE VARIETIES
The white wine at Rayas is made from 50 % Grenache Blanc and 50 % Clairette. At Fonsalette
the white blend is 50 % Grenache Blanc, 30 % Marsanne and 20 % Clairette. There is also a
certain amount of Chardonnay used in the production of the Château de Fonsalette. For the red
Châteauneuf-du-Pape only the Grenache grape is used. In the Côtes-du-Rhône there is 50 %
Grenache, 35 % Cinsault and 15 % Syrah from old vines.
AVERAGE AGE OF THE VINES
Old vines between 55 and 70 years old for Rayas Rouge. The average for the white wines is
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CHATEAU RAYAS
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
FACT SHEET
about 25 years and the red 30 years. At Fonsalette the average age is 35 years.
AVERAGE PRODUCTION
Because of the age of the wines and very strict pruning, only about 20 hectolitres per hectare are
produced at Rayas and Fonsalette. This can be translated to about 5000 cases altogether, mostly
red wine, because only 500 cases of Fonsalette Blanc is made and 350 cases of Château Rayas
Blanc. Fonsalette usually produces about 2000 case of the rouge. This leaves about 2000 cases
of Châteauneuf-du-Pape red split between Château Rayas and Pignan (the second wine)
depending on the vintage.
VINIFICATION AND AGEING
This is extremely traditional at Rayas. No destemming for the red wines. No temperature control
during fermentation and a maceration period of a normal two to three weeks. After racking the
wine spends a few months in enamal vats before being transferred to rows of rather dusty
looking old oak casks of various shapes and sizes. Bottling will take place about two years after
the vintage. The white wines after about a year. There is no fining nor filtration prior to bottling.
TASTING NOTES
One could become addicted to Rayas wines. The rich aromatic herbal reds and the intense
complex whites. The red wines are unique. Contrary to the common belief that good
Châteauneuf-du-Pape should be made from a blend of grape varieties, at Rayas only the
Grenache is used and only old vines from north facing slopes. The result is a wine that will age
for 20 years or more. A longer than normal period in cask only adds to the complexity and depth
of the wines. These wines are full of personality. The Château Rayas red has a huge exotic
bouquet with hints of black-cherry fruit and staggering concentration. On the palate the wine is
almost Port like in texture with great intensity and gorgeous voluptuous flavours. The second
wine called Pignan is very similar to Château Rayas. In some years, Château Rayas will not be
made and the entire crop is sold as Pignan. This wine has similar flavours to Château Rayas but
not quite the intensity and staying power. It is, however, to be ranked with other top wines from
Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is sold at half the price of Château Rayas. The white
Châteaunef-du-Pape from Château Rayas is one of the few than can be kept for a decade or
more. Made in the traditional way with no temperature control the flavours are complex and rich
but take times to develop. At the same time finesse elegance and structure are evident. This is a
wonderful wine with rich food. The Fonsalette Côtes-du-Rhône wines are equally fascinating.
They are made at Rayas, very much along the same lines. The low yields produce a red of great
complexity with wonderful flavours of raspberries and blackcurrents. They have enormous
charm and are always a revelation considering they are classified as a straightforward
Côtes-du-Rhône.
The white is also excellent, less complex than the Rayas, it has a lovely texture and rich, exotic
flavours on the palate. A wonderful rosé is also produced at Fonsalette as well as a special cuvee
... 100% Syrah. The Syrah vines are cloned from Chave's Hermitage vineyards. They are planted
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CHATEAU RAYAS
CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE
FACT SHEET
on cool north facing slopes. The wine is remarkebly dense, concentrated and rich. It only starts
becoming drinkable after 15 to 20 years of ageing.
MARKETING
On an allocation basis to trade customers including many of the great restaurants of France.
Exports in small quantities to all the knowledgeable wine markets.
NOTES ON THE PROPERTY
It is no secret that this is among the leading estates in France and therefore the world. However,
a visit there will leave one perplexed. After a dusty drive up an unmarked track for two miles
north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape you come accross an unasuming and poorly kept building which
looks to have been abandoned for some time. The late owner, the excentric Jacques Reynaud,
was one of the most remarkable personalities of the world of wine .. many say he was a genius.
He would make a visit to Rayas a memorable experience. In the dark dusty cellars wines of
superlative quality are aged. Taking time to open a few bottles Jacques Reynaud would explain
his approach to wine making. As we know, this was ultra traditional and we could only marvel
at the nectar that comes from the delapited old ca delapidated old casks. The secret lies in the
soil structure, the old vines and extremely low yields, not forgetting the cool microclimate and
north facing exposure of the slopes.
Jacques Reynaud's grandfather originally came to Châteuneuf-du-Pape in 1894 but it was his
father, Louis Reynaud that made Château Rayas what it is today. He believed in quality at all
costs and advocated that the wines should be disturbed as little as possible. This very traditional
approach and commitment to low yields was carried on by Jacques until his untimely death in
the street at Avignon in January 1997. Today it is his sister Françoise and especially his nephew
Emmanuel, owner of Château des Tours, Vacqueyras, who run the property, continuing the
phylosophy and methods that have made Château Rayas one of the most outstanding wines of
France. Château Rayas is by far the most expensive and long lived wine of
Châteauneuf-du-Pape but no one contests the price of this truly remarkable product.
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