Chateau Rayas, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 1995

1.5cm; torn label

100 Points CellarTracker Member

One of the great vintages of Rayas is still on top of its game. Full, deep, and intense, the wine opens with garrigue, peppery herbs, kirsch, flowers, smoked herbs, and spice. The vibrant palate is long, seamless, and fresh, delivering non-stop, seamless layers of sweet, ripe kirsch. Drink from 2024-2038. 3/22/2024

Such an open nose, amazing bouquet. The intensity of the nose with kirsch, dried kitchen herbs, and that black tea which tickled my nostrils... brilliant.

We kind of guessed that our new friend S, had brought along a Rayas. I could only guess that it was more mature and open then the 2011 served at this Chateau Rayas dinner in Quin!

S had prepared this magnificently, with a 24 hour bottle breathe and double-decant in his cellar. Perfect balance, and the aromatics kept developing.

Concentrated mouth-feel with a mineral and smoky mid-palate, with such perfect balance. The tannins are ultra fine and mostly resolved, with just enough acidity to make this very interesting indeed.

Finish must have been 1 minute long, I lost count after.. Wonderful!

By all accounts, 1995 was an excellent vintage for Rhone, many went as far as to describe this as legendary.

After 4 years of rain in the years leading up to 1995, it was a hot vintage. Some wines had a harder style of tannins, which aided in longevity, but not all were pleasurable. This Rayas however, is brilliant.

1995 vintage at Chateau Rayas - Tiny crop of only 12-15 hectoliters per hectare, and less than 1,000 cases ever made. Makes this one of the rarest, and most difficult to obtain Rayas vintages. And we had the privilege of having this in one seating alongside the 2011 Rayas rouge, and a 2012 Rayas blanc too. I had to pinch myself!

Is this ready? It certainly is, as it is in a spot when the hard tannins has given way to balance. In the sweet spot between primary moving into secondaries now, I would love to have another one tomorrow. And the day after...!

Quin at The Five, Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia

24th June 2024

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