Chateau Rayas

The 2014 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réservé Pignan is gorgeous, though readers are well advised to allow it at least five more years in bottle, or else open it a good 12 hours in advance without decanting. Supremely elegant notes of kirsch, stemmy tones and fresh violets mingle with herbal glimmers on the beguiling nose, immediately signaling a red wine crafted by Emmanuel Reynaud. On the palate, hallmark silky tannins and a firm acidic backbone frame the wine, resulting in a refined Pignan that’s quite unlike the broader-shouldered style it can show in warmer vintages. The 2014 is sheer class and finesse, a red Châteauneuf that anyone fortunate enough to taste even once in their lifetime should not pass up.

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.

Brilliant red. Ripe red berries and potpourri on the lively, mineral-accented nose, with suave floral and allspice qualities adding complexity. Juicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent precision and vivacity, with a hint of white pepper contributing cut. Asian spice nuances come up on the clean, tightly focused finish, which is given shape by silky, even tannins.