2000 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Reserve
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Tasting notes
The 2000 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape white (equal parts Clairette and white Grenache) reveals big, juicy, buttery honeysuckle-like aromas and flavors, excellent concentration, a chewy palate, and a long finish. It should drink well for a decade or more, as this cuvee has an uncanny ability to pull itself together and surprise anyone trying to predict what it is going to do. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Martine's Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Deep aromas of dried yellow fruits, honey and nut butter. Concentrated and dense but youthfully closed following the bottling. Very ripe but adamantly dry, and not currently showing its fruit component. But finishes fat and long.
About the producer
Ch. Rayas is a cult name in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wines – pure, silken expressions of Grenache with distinctive perfume – are revered for their singularity and fiercely collected. Made by Emmanuel Reynaud and renowned for their ageability, they have become some of the region's most sought-after.