2014 Chateauneuf du Pape
Buying options
Tasting notes
A much lighter style of Rayas, the 2014 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Reserve has a light ruby hue and a classic Rayas perfume of sweet kirsch, Provençal baking spices, dried orange, garrigue, and savory flowers. It's medium-bodied on the palate, with a silky, elegant mouthfeel, soft tannins, and outstanding length. It's not a great Rayas, but it's clearly a Rayas with its classic perfume and elegance. It needs an hour in a decanter to come together and should continue to drink well over the coming decade. Drink 2025-2035.
Critic scores
Average Score
Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Château Rayas is a jewel of a wine. Mingling fragrant aromas of orange blossom, crushed rose petals, forest strawberry, raspberry jam, white pepper, dried lavender, melted licorice and verbena tea. It is deeply moving and hauntingly elegant as it expands vertically on the palate. The silky tannins are drop-dead-gorgeous and contribute to a divine mouthfeel that concludes with a complex finish.
The 2014 Château Rayas is a jewel of a wine. Mingling fragrant aromas of orange blossom, crushed rose petals, forest strawberry, raspberry jam, white pepper, dried lavender, melted licorice and verbena tea. It is deeply moving and hauntingly elegant as it expands vertically on the palate. The silky tannins are drop-dead-gorgeous and contribute to a divine mouthfeel that concludes with a complex finish.
About the producer
Ch. Rayas is a cult name in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wines – pure, silken expressions of Grenache with distinctive perfume – are revered for their singularity and fiercely collected. Made by Emmanuel Reynaud and renowned for their ageability, they have become some of the region's most sought-after.