Rayas Châteauneuf du Pape 2011

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Rayas
Label Name:
 
Châteauneuf du Pape
Vintage:
 
2011
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Southern Rhône
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
14%
Grape(s):
 
Grenache (100%)
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
2
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
5
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Major reviews: James Suckling ~96, Vinous (Josh Raynolds) ~94, Jeb Dunnuck/Wine Advocate ~95. Highly collectible; frequent top-95 ratings and long aging potential

Tasting Note
Pale ruby; perfumed red cherry, raspberry, rose petal, garrigue and spice. Silky, ethereal texture with savory, mineral and subtle leather notes; long, floral finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, beef stew, duck confit, mushroom ragout, aged hard cheeses. Asian: Peking duck, hoisin or five-spice pork, Korean BBQ (bulgogi), miso-glazed aubergine, shiitake mushroom stir-fries.

Production Method
Hand-harvested old-vine Grenache; high whole-bunch proportion, short gentle maceration, indigenous-yeast fermentation; aged in old foudres/450L demi-muids with minimal new oak and low-intervention cellar practices.

Vineyard Info
Rayas (Reynaud family) — tiny, sandy, north-facing parcels with very old Grenache vines. Emmanuel Reynaud continues traditional, low-yield, organic/minimal-intervention practices; extremely limited production and long cellaring windows.