Bodega Cuatro Rayas

Cuarenta Cuvee Vendimias Verdejo 2022

9.1

2022-Vintage - yellow gold , a lot of other than fruit character minerality ( Stoney character) spiced apple , good intensity. Med plus acidity ,12.5% ABV good concentration — 8 days ago

Tom, Bob and 5 others liked this

Douglas Braun

Nice medium bodied character

Domaine des Tours

Réserve Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Red Rhone Blend 2019

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

8.9

This ain’t Rayas. Would be great at $20, but the pedigree has this way overpriced these days. — 4 months ago

Shay and Ira liked this

Ira Schwartz

@Matt Austin “pricing by association “ has become a joke.

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Clairette Grenache Blanc 2007

Alvaro Bustillos

Ultima cena la paulee — 6 months ago

Jan and Juan liked this

La Pialade de Rayas

Côtes du Rhône Grenache Blend 2014

Michael Greene

9.2

Like a very structured rose. Orange blossom. Funk. — 7 months ago

Lyle, Pooneet and 1 other liked this

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache Blend 2005

Ira Schwartz

9.3

I’ve been fortunate to consume several bottles of this legend. However, this was the first bottle that did not have me babbling to my dinner guests. All the Rayas traits; elegance , pure fruit , spice were present just not oversized. — a month ago

Andrew, Jay and 42 others liked this

Tom Casagrande

@Jay Kline - I should have such Rayas-serving friends!!

Ira Schwartz

@Tom Casagrande Probably the only reason I get invited to anything

Jay Kline

@Tom Casagrande we all should!

Château Rayas

Reserve Château de Fonsalette Côtes du Rhône Red Rhone Blend 2006

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2006 vintage. Opened and put aside for a half hour, then decanted and tasted after an hour. Excellent fill and cork with minimal sed. Rusty, brickish color. Earthy, spicy nose. Light bodied. Phenomenal amounts of undying back palate push and spice “componentry” to vault this into Holy Bleep territory. Another decade at this level. Such a pleasure. 04.18.25. — 4 months ago

Ted, David and 12 others liked this

Tom Casagrande

You lucked out. Last three bottles I’ve had of Fonsallette from the aughts were, of necessity, purchased on the secondary market and obviously poorly stored by some rich a**holes who didn’t give a sh*t and didn’t appreciate what their wealth and connections were able to get. As a result, all three bottles I got were tired and browning. Still, the memory I have of how great these wines can be (from the 80s and early 90s before they acquired cult status) keep me rolling the dice and spending $$ I shouldn’t searching to re-live that magic despite the risk of poor storage.

Château Rayas

Chateau de Fonsalette Réservé Côtes du Rhône Syrah 2008

Jay Kline

9.4

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of three days and consistent throughout. The 2008 Cuvèe Syrah pours a deep, hazy ruby/purple color with a near translucent core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with heady notes of ripe black and red fruits: mixed brambles, garrigue, lavender, black pepper, salmiakki, olive brine, spiced and cured meat, and dry stony earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish lasts for ten minutes (no cap); savory and spicy. This is my second time getting to enjoy this truly special wine and both experiences were consistent. Drink now with a 30min decant and enjoy through 2033. — 7 months ago

Daniel, A. and 14 others liked this

Tom Casagrande

Very lucky to be able to find this these days. Someone’s hoarding them. Not sure who . . . but I will track. them. down.

Jay Kline

@Tom Casagrande for real. Even Chateau des Tours is nearly impossible to find anymore and secondary pricing is painful.

Tom Casagrande

@Jay Kline - And secondary storage conditions are Russian Roulette.

Château Rayas

Réservé Pignan Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache 2002

Mark Rosse

9.2

A bit beyond its peak. Still soft and sexy — 2 months ago

Dave liked this

Château Rayas

Réservé Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2009

Alvaro Bustillos

9.8

Cena peter zehian mi casa miguel fdz — 2 months ago

Jan liked this

Château Rayas

Châteauneuf-du-Pape Grenache 2012

Conrad Green

9.6

The nose is just gorgeous. Lifted and pure. Translucent. Bright consommé-like raspberry, cherry with an earthy bloodiness underpinning. Super pure. Excellent — 4 months ago

with Walker and David

Ira liked this

Ira Schwartz

@Conrad Green 👍. I’ll be dining at République this Friday. I know you have many wine dinners there. Although, I am an invited guest and will be part of a large group, I am looking forward to hopefully picking out a bottle from their great list and having it after dinner with guests who appreciate wine. Is there a particular sommelier I should introduce myself to? Thanks.

Conrad Green

That’ll be fun Ira…. It’s such a consistently good restaurant. I love Sarah Clarke there if she’s working that night. Very knowledgeable and great at her job. There’s usually some gems on their list, so you should be in for a treat

Ira Schwartz

@Conrad Green much appreciated!