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The Summer 2015 Live Auction
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1 / 8Lot 1475
Estimate: $200
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Collection name
Reviews
94JG
"Jacques Reynaud, who passed away in 1997, was always more interested in the ultimate quality of the wines that wore the Rayas label than he was with the strictures of the appellation controlée laws. Hence, the addition of chardonnay to both the Fonsalette and Rayas white cuvées, and with the reds, often very, very successful wines in “off vintages”. Martine Saunier, long an importer of Château Rayas on the west coast of the United States, talks of how Monsieur Reynaud would retain half of the previous vintage in cuve until he had had an opportunity to assess the potential quality of the following vintage. If the latter looked to be a bit weak, the addition of a bit of “booster Rayas” from a more powerful vintage was never beyond the realm of possibility. In any event, the 1994 is stunning, with significantly deeper color at the core than the 1996 paired alongside it. The nose jumps from the glass with scents of crushed raspberries, woodsmoke, coffee, pepper, grilled venison, herbs, and cloves. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, deep and resolving, with secondary layers of nuance emerging, a juicy core of fruit, and a long, complex and impressive finish."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"Jacques Reynaud, who passed away in 1997, was always more interested in the ultimate quality of the wines that wore the Rayas label than he was with the strictures of the appellation controlée laws. Hence, the addition of chardonnay to both the Fonsalette and Rayas white cuvées, and with the reds, often very, very successful wines in “off vintages”. Martine Saunier, long an importer of Château Rayas on the west coast of the United States, talks of how Monsieur Reynaud would retain half of the previous vintage in cuve until he had had an opportunity to assess the potential quality of the following vintage. If the latter looked to be a bit weak, the addition of a bit of “booster Rayas” from a more powerful vintage was never beyond the realm of possibility. In any event, the 1994 is stunning, with significantly deeper color at the core than the 1996 paired alongside it. The nose jumps from the glass with scents of crushed raspberries, woodsmoke, coffee, pepper, grilled venison, herbs, and cloves. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, deep and resolving, with secondary layers of nuance emerging, a juicy core of fruit, and a long, complex and impressive finish."
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The world's most influential fine-wine producer and the benchmark for Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhone. Its appellation (AOC) system codifies geography, grape and method, and its wines set the global standard for age-worthiness and terroir expression.
Spans the Syrah-driven northern crus of Cote-Rotie and Hermitage and the Grenache-based blends of the warmer south, led by Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Its wines are known for power, spice and warmth.
The southern Rhone's most famous appellation, blending Grenache with Syrah, Mourvedre and more into rich, warming, spice-laden reds from galet-strewn soils.