Chateau Rahoul Graves Bordeaux, Complete, Guide

rahoul-chateau

Learn everything about Chateau Rahoul Graves, with wine tasting notes and wine-with-food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Rahoul History, Overview

Chateau Rahoul has a long history in the Graves region that dates back to the mid-1600s. The estate takes its name from Guillaume de Rahoul, who owned the vineyard from the mid-17th century until the French Revolution.

However, the birth of the modern era for Chateau Rahoul starts in 1971 when the property was purchased by David Robson. At the time, the vineyards were almost nonexistent, having fallen into poor condition. David Robson began the arduous and expensive task of cultivating the vineyard. It was under the direction of David Robson that Chateau Rahoul started bottling and marketing its wine as well.

In 1983, a new owner took over the property, Lothar Dahl. Under his direction, the estate became one of the first properties in the Graves region to begin to vinify the wines in barrel, similar to what had been taking place in Burgundy for centuries.

So, while this was not new to any Burgundians, this was quite surprising for a property in Bordeaux to be doing this. Starting with the 2007 vintage, the popular negociant, CVGB entered into a long-term agreement with the owner, Alain Thienot to produce, market, and sell the wines of Chateau Rahoul through their Dourthe group.

Chateau Rahoul Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 42 hectares vineyard of Chateau Rahoul has 38.5 hectares are planted to 70% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot for the red wine grapes. For the white wine grapes, 3.5 hectares of vines are planted to 78% Semillon and 15% Sauvignon Blanc, and 7% Sauvignon Gris.

For the red wine grape varieties, the terroir is gravel, sand, and clay soils. The red wine of Chateau Rahoul is vinified in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in a combination of stainless steel vats and French oak barrels. The wine is aged in 25% new, French oak barrels for 12 months before bottling.

For the white wine grapes, the terroir is gravel, sand, and clay soils. The wine is vinified entirely in the barrel. The white wine of Chateau Rahoul is aged on its lees in 20% new, French oak barrels for an average of 8-9 months before bottling.

Even though the estate produced a lot more red wine than white wine, I find Chateau Rahoul Blanc to be the more interesting wine. There are 2 second wines, L’Orangerie de Rahoul Rouge and Chateau La Garance Blanc.

The Best Vintages of Chateau Rahoul are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006 and 2005. Although it is important to note that vintages can vary as to their quality between the white wine and the reds with as in some years, the reds are markedly better and in other vintages the whites are superior.

Aside from Chateau Rahoul, Dourthe owns several other Bordeaux vineyards including: Chateau Belgrave Haut Medoc, Chateau La Garde Pessac Leognan, Chateau Belgrave Haut Medoc, Chateau Reysson Haut-Medoc, and in the Right Bank, Chateau Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Figeac St. Emilion, and Chateau Pey-La-Tour Bordeaux Superieur.

When to Drink Chateau Rahoul, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Rahoul can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour, or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Rahoul is usually better with at least 3-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Rahoul offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 4-9 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Rahoul, with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Rahoul is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The red wine of Chateau Rahoul is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Rahoul is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

The white wine of Chateau Rahoul is a perfect wine to serve with shellfish, sashimi, sushi, all types of seafood, chicken, veal, and cheese.

www.dourthe.com

Château Rahoul Wine Tasting Notes

19 Vintages 46,256 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2022
90
Forward, soft, elegant, fruity and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied and ready to deliver its currants and cherries with their edge of spice and herbs on release. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts.

Forward, soft, elegant, fruity and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied and ready to deliver its currants and cherries with their edge of spice and herbs on release. Drink from 2025-2032. 89-91 Pts.

2,105 Views   Tasted
2022
90
Crips lemons and tart green apples with florality makes this sweet, fruity, creamy, citrus wine a pleasure to enjoy in its youth. Drink from 2024-2027. 90-90 Pts.

Crips lemons and tart green apples with florality makes this sweet, fruity, creamy, citrus wine a pleasure to enjoy in its youth. Drink from 2024-2027. 90-90 Pts.

2,245 Views   Tasted
2021
88
Underbrush, smoke, cherries and leafy herbs create the nose. The palate has a nice spicy edge to its medium-bodied, chalky, red currant profile. Drink from 2024-2030.

Underbrush, smoke, cherries and leafy herbs create the nose. The palate has a nice spicy edge to its medium-bodied, chalky, red currant profile. Drink from 2024-2030.

221 Views   Tasted
Light, savory, herbal accented red fruits finish with chalky tannins and a strong, olive and green leafy accent. Drink from 2023-2027. 85-87

Light, savory, herbal accented red fruits finish with chalky tannins and a strong, olive and green leafy accent. Drink from 2023-2027. 85-87

1,605 Views   Tasted
2020
91
Spicy lemons, white flowers, white peaches and citrus rind form the complex aromatic profile. Fresh and lifted on the palate, the wine pops with sweet Meyer lemons in the creamy finish. Drink from 2023-2029.

Spicy lemons, white flowers, white peaches and citrus rind form the complex aromatic profile. Fresh and lifted on the palate, the wine pops with sweet Meyer lemons in the creamy finish. Drink from 2023-2029.

1,273 Views   Tasted
Lemon, grapefruit and green apple nuances are all over the place here. The wine is sweet, fresh, creamy and crisp with a blast of juicy Meyer lemon rind in the zesty finish. This is already showing just great. 90 Pts

Lemon, grapefruit and green apple nuances are all over the place here. The wine is sweet, fresh, creamy and crisp with a blast of juicy Meyer lemon rind in the zesty finish. This is already showing just great. 90 Pts

1,773 Views   Tasted
2020
90
Fresh, silky, sweet, forward and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied, with a core of sweet, perfect ripe, elegant, smoked red fruits and tobacco leaf that you can already find in the mid-palate and in the finish. Drink from 2023-2037.

Fresh, silky, sweet, forward and fresh, the wine is medium-bodied, with a core of sweet, perfect ripe, elegant, smoked red fruits and tobacco leaf that you can already find in the mid-palate and in the finish. Drink from 2023-2037.

1,337 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, soft and silky, with a core of sweet, perfect ripe, elegant, smoked red fruits and tobacco leaf nuances, this is going to be even better with a few years of age. 89-91 Pts

Medium-bodied, soft and silky, with a core of sweet, perfect ripe, elegant, smoked red fruits and tobacco leaf nuances, this is going to be even better with a few years of age. 89-91 Pts

2,038 Views   Tasted
2019
90
Slightly honeyed grapefruit, flowers and green apples with a touch of orange rind on the palate offers a ready to drink wine with freshness and creamy lemons in the finish. Drink from 2022-2027.

Slightly honeyed grapefruit, flowers and green apples with a touch of orange rind on the palate offers a ready to drink wine with freshness and creamy lemons in the finish. Drink from 2022-2027.

986 Views   Tasted
2019
89
Spicy, fresh and floral, you find a nice, slight touch of tobacco and smoke that comes along with the earthy, herbal touched red fruits. Medium-bodied, elegant and crisp, the bright red fruits show up nicely on the palate and in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2022 - 2029.

Spicy, fresh and floral, you find a nice, slight touch of tobacco and smoke that comes along with the earthy, herbal touched red fruits. Medium-bodied, elegant and crisp, the bright red fruits show up nicely on the palate and in the finish. You can enjoy this on release. Drink from 2022 - 2029.

1,943 Views   Tasted
2018
89
Earthy, spicy, bright red fruits with accents of tobacco and cedar open nicely before you get to the medium-bodied core of red fruits on the mid-palate and soft textured finish. This will be quite easy to enjoy on release.

Earthy, spicy, bright red fruits with accents of tobacco and cedar open nicely before you get to the medium-bodied core of red fruits on the mid-palate and soft textured finish. This will be quite easy to enjoy on release.

1,248 Views   Tasted
Forward, soft, round, and open, with a nice, earthy, red fruit and cocoa filled character, this will be quite easy to enjoy on release. 88-90 Pts

Forward, soft, round, and open, with a nice, earthy, red fruit and cocoa filled character, this will be quite easy to enjoy on release. 88-90 Pts

3,547 Views   Tasted
2018
89
Fresh, grapefruit, yellow citrus and green apple packed wine with hints of vanilla and flowers that is already tasting just great.

Fresh, grapefruit, yellow citrus and green apple packed wine with hints of vanilla and flowers that is already tasting just great.

1,536 Views   Tasted
White peach, yellow citrus and a touch of vanilla are offered in a medium bodied forward style, that is perfect for summer drinking.

White peach, yellow citrus and a touch of vanilla are offered in a medium bodied forward style, that is perfect for summer drinking.

1,618 Views   Tasted
2017
89
Lemon peel, white peach and floral scents are paired with just squeezed citrus. A crisp personality makes this a great summer white wine.

Lemon peel, white peach and floral scents are paired with just squeezed citrus. A crisp personality makes this a great summer white wine.

1,761 Views   Tasted
2017
85
Leafy forest notes and red fruits combine well here. This wine is fresh, bright, polished, open and easy to drink with a candied red fruit character.

Leafy forest notes and red fruits combine well here. This wine is fresh, bright, polished, open and easy to drink with a candied red fruit character.

1,774 Views   Tasted
2016
87
Medium-bodied, fresh, leafy and smoky, the wine is forward, an earthy, red berry character, soft textures and already open character.

Medium-bodied, fresh, leafy and smoky, the wine is forward, an earthy, red berry character, soft textures and already open character.

1,860 Views   Tasted
2016
84
Medium bodied, there is a smoky, earthy quality to the red fruits. The wine is quite sweet and tastes a bit forced for the vintage.

Medium bodied, there is a smoky, earthy quality to the red fruits. The wine is quite sweet and tastes a bit forced for the vintage.

2,958 Views   Tasted
2016
84
Honeysuckle, citrus, and pomelo fruits are what you'll find in this forward, round, easy drinking, seemingly, slightly sweet wine.

Honeysuckle, citrus, and pomelo fruits are what you'll find in this forward, round, easy drinking, seemingly, slightly sweet wine.

1,845 Views   Tasted
2015
89
Crisp, bright, fresh blend of grapefruit, green apple and lemons, with a hint of honeysuckle and a zesty, medium bodied, yellow citrus finish. This is a wine to drink now and over the next few years.

Crisp, bright, fresh blend of grapefruit, green apple and lemons, with a hint of honeysuckle and a zesty, medium bodied, yellow citrus finish. This is a wine to drink now and over the next few years.

1,236 Views   Tasted
2015
87
Medium-bodied, forward, easy to drink, round, soft, approachable, red berry, earth and tobacco leaf filled wine for near term enjoyment.

Medium-bodied, forward, easy to drink, round, soft, approachable, red berry, earth and tobacco leaf filled wine for near term enjoyment.

3,530 Views   Tasted
2014
86
Medium bodied, correct, uncomplicated, forward, slightly oaky wine, with clean, light, red fruits, that are made better by hints of tobacco leaf. This is already approachable.

Medium bodied, correct, uncomplicated, forward, slightly oaky wine, with clean, light, red fruits, that are made better by hints of tobacco leaf. This is already approachable.

2,298 Views   Tasted
2013
90
All that fresh squeezed grapefruit, honeysuckle and lemon peel give this wine a blast of fresh, refreshing, crispness and a touch of French vanilla. Forward in style, this will be best on young side.

All that fresh squeezed grapefruit, honeysuckle and lemon peel give this wine a blast of fresh, refreshing, crispness and a touch of French vanilla. Forward in style, this will be best on young side.

2,452 Views   Tasted
2012
84
Simple, uncomplicated, easy drinking quaffer, without faults, and a hint of tobacco over its red berry fruit. This is a wine for drinking in its first years of life.

Simple, uncomplicated, easy drinking quaffer, without faults, and a hint of tobacco over its red berry fruit. This is a wine for drinking in its first years of life.

3,067 Views   Tasted