Close
Search
Filters

Châteauneuf du Pape Blanc 2007 75cl

AOC | Châteauneuf du Pape | Rhône | France
CHF 810.75
Critics scores
94 Robert Parker
One of the more eccentric wines in the world is the Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape white. I have bottles of the 1990 that are spectacular, and others that are completely oxidized, all from the same cases. So go figure! The 2007 looks to have enormous potential, and under the winemaking of Emmanuel Reynaud, the wine has been more consistent. It never sees a day of oak, as it is kept on the second floor of Rayas in tank prior to bottling. On paper, this wine is an equal part blend of Grenache Blanc and Clairette, although I wouldn’t be surprised if a few other grapes made it into the final blend. For decades, there have been rumors that in some remote corner of the Rayas vineyards some Chardonnay is planted, although this has never been documented or proven. This full-bodied, powerful wine offers up incredible notes of pineapple, white currants, quince, flowers, poached pear, and caramelized tangerine. It is exotic in 2007, with some shockingly good acidity, but the problem is that there is not much of it, as under 500 cases are generally made in any vintage. This wine has legendary aging potential if you’re willing to take the gamble and wait, although the 2007 is good enough to drink now. Keep your fingers crossed on its evolution, which could be positive and last as long as two to three decades.
94 Robert Parker
One of the more eccentric wines in the world is the Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape white. I have bottles of the 1990 that are spectacular, and others that are completely oxidized, all from the same cases. So go figure! The 2007 looks to have enormous potential, and under the winemaking of Emmanuel Reynaud, the wine has been more consistent. It never sees a day of oak, as it is kept on the second floor of Rayas in tank prior to bottling. On paper, this wine is an equal part blend of Grenache Blanc and Clairette, although I wouldn’t be surprised if a few other grapes made it into the final blend. For decades, there have been rumors that in some remote corner of the Rayas vineyards some Chardonnay is planted, although this has never been documented or proven. This full-bodied, powerful wine offers up incredible notes of pineapple, white currants, quince, flowers, poached pear, and caramelized tangerine. It is exotic in 2007, with some shockingly good acidity, but the problem is that there is not much of it, as under 500 cases are generally made in any vintage. This wine has legendary aging potential if you’re willing to take the gamble and wait, although the 2007 is good enough to drink now. Keep your fingers crossed on its evolution, which could be positive and last as long as two to three decades.
Producer
Château Rayas
A Rhône legend, Château Rayas signifies the greatest production in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. As the sole, standout producer in the Southern Rhône, the château predates their oldest vines, with a history dating back to the 1880s. Originally founded by Albert Reynaud, his son Louis led the property to be one of the first in the region to bottle and sell their own wine. The estate has since remained in the family, and today, it is run by fourth and fifth generation father and son duo, Emmanuel and Louis Damien. The Reynaud family also owns, Château des Tours and Château Fonsalette. The property is made up of 23 hectares of land, with 12 hectares of vineyards in Châteauneuf-du-Pape; 10 of which are devoted to red wine production and the remaining to white wine. Their terroir and climate is quite unique to the region, with very fine, sandy soils and a cooler microclimate when compared to its neighbors’ vineyards scattered with rocks baking in the sun. It is here, that the secret to their legendary wines are found, the combination of great terroir and years of expertise passed down from generation to generation. Going from strength-to-strength with each new vintage, Château Rayas’ collection is one of the most collectible on the market. The main wine of Château Rayas is a traditional Châteauneuf-du-Pape which is made from 100% Grenache and showcases ripe and opulent fruit, with a limited production of around 1,100 cases per year. Their second wine, Pignan is produced from almost 100% old vine Grenache with a super-limited production of 650 cases per vintage. The estate also produces a white wine, made of equal proportions of Grenache Blanc and Clairette.