Château Rayas Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2008

Conrad Green

A gorgeous intense nose. Tangy blue fruit, garrigue. Intense and bright and powerful. Delicious.

Dr. Owen Bargreen

My friend graciously shared the 2008 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape which was a rare treat that is truly one of the wines of the vintage. The intoxicating bouquet of rose petals, Provencale herbs, sweet pipe tobacco and pretty red fruits bring you back to the glass for more aromatic delight. The texture of the wine borders ethereal as the Grenache effortlessly dances across the mid-palate. Bright guava and Yakima cherry flavors combine with damp earthy tones, minerals and a marvelous salinity that runs through the core of the wine. The exceedingly long finish lingers. While marvelous now, the 2008 Rayas will have a long life ahead of it in the cellar. Drink 2020-2038- 96

Jake Hajer

WOW! Gorgeous wine. Medium-light bodied, light tannins, but so layered and so much fruit. Somehow the intense fruit doesn’t unbalance a subtle spice and a hint of green. Shockingly good.

Gilbert Van Hassel

The wine is old. If you have some left drink ASAP . Ruby port color, oxidative nose, drinkable but way past prime.

Gilbert Van Hassel

Between 2007 and 2009. Une verite de la palice but with great significance in the wine world. Light year, very feminine wine, very evolved, reduction in nose needs to be drunk now.

Will Costello MS

Master Sommelier, Wine Director Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas

All the stems but such a pure ripe red fruit on the palate. I want to bathe in this forever.

Ira Schwartz

With a table full of giants , for many this was the WOTD. Text book Rayas on the nose; strawberry, cherry, spices and kirsch. This is a wine that makes love to your palate. Teasing and caressing your mouth with harmonious waves of elegant and balanced fruit. A great Rayas in a poor vintage for CDP. However for me the partner in life is the 2005 , which has complexity and concentration that puts that one in the Hall of Fame along with ‘78, ‘90 & ‘95

Matt

Everything I want in Grenache, everything I wish Pinot had. Garnet, limpid, crushed strawberry, grilled blood orange, white pepper, crushed herbs, wet leaves, stones, potpourri, dried rose petal, juniper, dried strawberry, oolong tea, fern forest, candy cap mushrooms, dry aged beef, and cinnamon. Lithe, graceful, driven by a focused acidity and strong mineral core. The stones and herbs are profound yet subdued by the purity of the red berry fruit. Incredibly detailed and an absolute match from nose to palate, clear and pure. Tannins are brisk and textural. Enjoyed over several hours for 35th bday.

Ken Swegles

Very nice!

Vino Kaela

A superb wine. Rich layers of spicy melon and red fruit with wild flowers. A nice undertone of organic earthiness rounds out the bouquet. The palate is rich and giving with a long finish. #Rhone