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It is no secret that this is among the leading estates in France and therefore the world. However, a visit there will leave one perplexed. After a dusty drive up an unmarked track for two miles north of Châteauneuf-du-Pape you come accross an unasuming and poorly kept building which looks to have been abandoned for some time. The late owner, the excentric Jacques Reynaud, was one of the most remarkable personalities of the world of wine .. many say he was a genius. He would make a visit to Rayas a memorable experience. In the dark dusty cellars wines of superlative quality are aged. Taking time to open a few bottles Jacques Reynaud would explain his approach to wine making. As we know, this was ultra traditional and we could only marvel at the nectar that comes from the delapited old ca delapidated old casks. The secret lies in the soil structure, the old vines and extremely low yields, not forgetting the cool microclimate and north facing exposure of the slopes.
Jacques Reynaud's grandfather originally came to Châteuneuf-du-Pape in 1894 but it was his father, Louis Reynaud that made Château Rayas what it is today. He believed in quality at all costs and advocated that the wines should be disturbed as little as possible. This very traditional approach and commitment to low yields was carried on by Jacques until his untimely death in the street at Avignon in January 1997. Today it is his sister Françoise and especially his nephew Emmanuel, owner of Château des Tours, Vacqueyras, who run the property, continuing the phylosophy and methods that have made Château Rayas one of the most outstanding wines of France. Château Rayas is by far the most expensive and long lived wine of Châteauneuf-du-Pape but no one contests the price of this truly remarkable product.
Wine Description
The Story
The second wine called Pignan is very similar to Château Rayas. In some years, Château Rayas will not be made and the entire crop is sold as Pignan. This wine has similar flavours to Château Rayas but not quite the intensity and staying power. It is, however, to be ranked with other top wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape and is sold at half the price of Château Rayas.