# Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve (1995)

- **Producer:** Château Rayas
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Grenache
- **Region:** Rhône, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.0%
- **Average price:** €2000
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** strawberry, raspberry, cherry, plum, rose, violet, black pepper, liquorice, smoke, leather, forest floor, wet leaves, game, dried fig, prune, cinnamon, tobacco

## About this wine

Château Rayas is one of the most legendary and mythical estates in the wine world, located in the Southern Rhône valley. Under the eccentric and late Jacques Reynaud, and now his nephew Emmanuel Reynaud, the estate has maintained an ultra-traditional, low-profile approach. Unlike almost all other Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines which are blends of multiple varieties, Rayas is famously crafted from 100% Grenache grown in a unique, cool, north-facing pine-sheltered vineyard with very sandy soils. This terroir yields a wine of unparalleled elegance, pale color, and haunting aromatic complexity, often compared to Grand Cru Burgundy rather than typical robust Southern Rhône reds. The 1995 vintage is widely considered an absolute masterpiece of the decade.

## Interesting facts

- Unlike almost all Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, Château Rayas is made from 100% Grenache.
- The estate's unique sandy soils lack the famous 'galets roulés' (large stones) found throughout most of the appellation.
- The vineyards are north-facing and surrounded by pine forests, creating a cool microclimate that preserves acidity.
- The late winemaker Jacques Reynaud was famous for hiding from journalists and unscheduled visitors in his cellars.

## Food pairing

The ethereal yet intense nature of aged Rayas requires dishes that match its complexity without overpowering its delicate, silky structure. Game birds, lamb, and dishes featuring earthy elements like truffles or wild mushrooms beautifully complement the wine's tertiary forest floor and sweet spice notes.

## Wine making process

The winemaking at Château Rayas is famously low-tech and traditional. Grapes are harvested very late to achieve optimal ripeness. Fermentation takes place in old, neutral double-foudres and demi-muids, with minimal intervention. The wine is aged for approximately 12 to 16 months in these ancient oak casks, which impart virtually no oak flavor, preserving the pure, ethereal expression of the Grenache grape and the sandy terroir. No destemming is practiced, and the wine is bottled without filtration.