1985 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve
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Tasting notes
I was blown away by the 1985 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. A wine that continued to improve in the glass, it was richly-textured and opulent, with expansive fruit that lingered on the palate for an eternity. It came across as incredibly youthful, in fact I would have never pegged it for a 22 year old wine had I tasted it blind.
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
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The 1985 was great young, then went into a dormant state, but has bounced back with a vengeance. The medium ruby color is not particularly saturated, but the gorgeous bouquet offers up scents of balsam, pepper, black cherries, and leather. The wine is alcoholic, heady, and rich, but a sneaky tannic characteristic creeps up as the wine sits in the glass. The 1985 has continually played games, one bottle suggesting early maturity, and the next indicating far greater longevity. There is no color degradation, and it appears to be just now reaching its peak of maturity. I would opt for drinking it over the next 5-10 years. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
The 1985 was great young, then went into a dormant state, but has bounced back with a vengeance. The medium ruby color is not particularly saturated, but the gorgeous bouquet offers up scents of balsam, pepper, black cherries, and leather. The wine is alcoholic, heady, and rich, but a sneaky tannic characteristic creeps up as the wine sits in the glass. The 1985 has continually played games, one bottle suggesting early maturity, and the next indicating far greater longevity. There is no color degradation, and it appears to be just now reaching its peak of maturity. I would opt for drinking it over the next 5-10 years. Jan 2003, www.robertparker.com
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.