An Evening Of Château Rayas Dinner

The history of Rayas goes back to 1880 when it was founded by Albert Reynaud. The first vintage was 1920 made by Albert’s son Louis. The Domaine expanded with the purchase of Domaine des Tours in 1945 and around the same time 12 hectares of Fonsalette. This is when Louis put his son Bertram in charge. When Louis passed away in 1978 the Domaine was split. The younger son Jacques inherited Rayas and Fonsalette and Bertram was awarded Domaine des Tours which was later handed down to his son Emmanuel. In 1997 Jacques died and left Rayas to Bertram’s son Emmanuel who already owned and operated Domaine des Tours in Vacqueyras. This revered estate’s unmarked building is difficult to find, it’s hard to believe that one of the world’s most distinctive and finest wines is produced there.

The 13 hectares of north facing slopes are in the northern section of Châteauneuf-du-Pape shaded by forests, where the vineyards are cooler. The soil is sand over marl and clay. The galets stones in other parts of the village are not present at Rayas. Jacques learned from his father that the way to get the most out of Grenache was to heavily restrict yields to no more than 10 or 15 hectoliters per hectare and Emmanuel continues the tradition. Both Rayas and Pignan are 100% Grenache. The grapes from Rayas are from the oldest vines. All the wines are made traditionally. There is no destemming, whole bunches are macerated and fermented in concrete without temperature control. Fonsalette produces two red Côtes du Rhône’s, Pialade, and a Syrah Cuvée and a white. The ultra-rare Rayas white is 50% Clairette and 50% Granache Blanc. Join us for an extraordinary vertical of this magical Domaine.

Vintages include: 

• Château de Fonsalette, Côtes-du-Rhône 1990 
  
• Château de Fonsalette, Côtes-du-Rhône 1999 
• Château Rayas, Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011 
• Château Rayas, Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2010 
• Château Rayas, Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2009 
• Château Rayas, Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2008 
• Château Rayas, Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007 
• Château Rayas, Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1994 
• Château Rayas, Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1990 
• Château Rayas, Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1995 Château Rayas, 
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 1999 Château Rayas, 
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2000 Château Rayas, 
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2003 Château Rayas, 
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2004 Château Rayas, 
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 Château Rayas, 
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2006 Château Rayas, 
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2007 Château Rayas, 
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2009