1988 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rhône France Wine Tasting Note
10318 Views
|
1988
Château Rayas Reserve (Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
As stunning as the previous bottle, this gem popped with its complex aromatic profile, easily displaying its flowers, spice, citrus, herbs, cherries, and black raspberries. The wine remains fresh, almost zesty with a peppery edge to the herb, and kirsch-packed finish. This is a beauty! Drink from 2024-2032. 372 Views Tasted Mar 22, 2024It took a while, but, clearly, it was worth the wait. The nose was gorgeous with its kirsch, raspberry, garrigue, rose petal, and assorted, dried, green herbs. The palate was its equal with its vibrant, lively, earthy, red berry, cherry, strawberry, and spice character, length, balance, and energy. There is no need to wait, or decant, just pop, pour, and enjoy the thrilling ride. Drink from 2023-2030. 1,741 Views Tasted Sep 25, 2023Fully mature, with an exotic, kirsch, earth and wild, dark cherry profile, the wine is concentrated, slightly firm, fresh and with air, additional lush qualities emerge. I would not age this much longer. It is not going to fall apart overnight, but it is not going to improve from here either. 3,160 Views Tasted Aug 31, 2016Earthy, with a touch of barnyard in the kirsch, pepper, garrigue, strawberry, cherry liqueur, spice and black cherry scented perfume. This is a semi masculine, powerful style of Rayas that can still age, if it has been well stored. 5,045 Views Tasted Jun 4, 2013 |
When to Drink Chateau Rayas, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Rayas can be enjoyed on the young side. However, the wine is much better with age. Still, due to its soft, pure, elegant, fresh style young vintages can be popped and poured, or decanted for 2 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Chateau Rayas is usually better after 8-10 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. In the best vintages, the wine should be consumed within 10-30 years after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Rayas with Wine, Food Pairing Tips
Rayas is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.
Chateau Rayas is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed dishes, sausage, and cassoulet. Chateau Rayas is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms pasta, eggplant, and tomatoes.
The white wine of Rayas is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork, and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.