There's one word that I kept coming back to when trying to describe my first experience with Chateau Rayas: singular.
First of all, the nose is unlike literally any other wine I've experienced. Most wines at least give you some kind of reference point to build from. With this, it's so unique that trying to compare it to anything else feels almost useless; it’s uncharted territory. My best description is roasted blood orange with candied strawberries and green and red rhubarb. There’s no discernible oak character. It’s almost entirely fruit-driven.
On the palate, the wine is impeccably balanced. For a 15% ABV wine, you can barely feel it there. Similar to the nose, the palate features a complex mix of candied and roasted fruit flavours of strawberries, rhubarb, and wild raspberries. Medium-plus acid, medium-plus body. The finish lingers for minutes with that rhubarb and blood orange flavour.
I enjoyed this over two days and it just got better and better. Is it the best wine I've ever had? Probably not. But it might be the most memorable.
To quote Ferris Bueller, “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
98 pts.
by Boyhowdyho
2 Comments
Well said!
There’s one word that I kept coming back to when trying to describe my first experience with Chateau Rayas: singular.
First of all, the nose is unlike literally any other wine I’ve experienced. Most wines at least give you some kind of reference point to build from. With this, it’s so unique that trying to compare it to anything else feels almost useless; it’s uncharted territory. My best description is roasted blood orange with candied strawberries and green and red rhubarb. There’s no discernible oak character. It’s almost entirely fruit-driven.
On the palate, the wine is impeccably balanced. For a 15% ABV wine, you can barely feel it there. Similar to the nose, the palate features a complex mix of candied and roasted fruit flavours of strawberries, rhubarb, and wild raspberries. Medium-plus acid, medium-plus body. The finish lingers for minutes with that rhubarb and blood orange flavour.
I enjoyed this over two days and it just got better and better. Is it the best wine I’ve ever had? Probably not. But it might be the most memorable.
To quote Ferris Bueller, “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
98 pts.