White dry
One of the most delicate and distinctive white wines from the southern Rhône, crafted by the renowned Emmanuel Reynaud, the legendary winemaker behind Château Rayas.
The aroma reveals ripe pear, white peach, and orange blossom notes, intertwined with hints of honey, herbs, soft almond, and beeswax. The bouquet is subtle yet rich – combining fruit purity with a gentle oxidative nuance that lends the wine its distinctive character and authenticity.
On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, with a creamy texture and lively yet rounded acidity. Layers of dried fruit, floral honey, gentle spice, and saline minerality unfold into a long, slightly nutty finish. This is a wine that reveals itself slowly – every sip offers a new dimension of depth and elegance.
The grapes are grown in the Vaucluse region, around the village of Sarrians, where a mix of clay and limestone soils, combined with a sunny yet breezy Mediterranean climate, allows for natural ripeness and concentration. The harvest is done by hand, and fermentation takes place with native yeasts, avoiding unnecessary technological intervention.
Aging occurs in old oak barrels, where the wine develops a delicate oxidative touch and a nutty depth – hallmarks of Emmanuel Reynaud’s unmistakable style.
Serving suggestion: Serve at 10–12 °C with fried sea bass in lemon butter, chicken with white mushroom sauce, or mature Beaufort cheese.
Château Rayas – the quiet aristocrat of Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Château Rayas is one of the most mythical names in French wine, revered for its singular style and uncompromising philosophy. Although located in the very heart of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, its wines bear little resemblance to the powerful, sun-driven expressions usually associated with the region. Instead, Rayas speaks through elegance, restraint and purity, qualities that deepen with time rather than fade.
The story of Rayas began quietly, without ambition for fame or recognition. Yet it was precisely this austere, almost ascetic approach that elevated the estate to legendary status. Today, Château Rayas is among the most sought-after wines in the world, despite never chasing acclaim.
The key to its identity lies in its unique terroir. Unlike most Châteauneuf-du-Pape vineyards dominated by large heat-retaining stones, Rayas is planted on sandy soils. This crucial difference results in wines of remarkable finesse, aromatic clarity, and lightness. The sand cools quickly and limits heat retention, giving Rayas wines a profile often compared not to the Rhône, but to Burgundy, especially in texture and elegance.
At the heart of the estate stands Grenache, yet here it expresses itself in a radically different way. Rather than power and density, Rayas Grenache is silky, refined and nuanced, offering red berry aromas, subtle spice and a long, slowly evolving finish.
Equally important is the winemaking philosophy. For decades, the estate was guided by Emmanuel Reynaud, who believed that great wine must be shaped by nature rather than technique. Natural fermentations, old barrels, and minimal intervention allow the vineyard to speak with complete clarity.
A special place belongs to Rayas Blanc, an almost mythical white wine made from Clairette and Grenache Blanc. It is far from a typical southern Rhône white — instead, it is layered, mineral, and deeply expressive, combining orchard fruit, gentle spice and a subtle saline edge. Wines of this character are exceptionally rare today.
Château Rayas remains what it has always been: discreet, uncompromising and profoundly expressive — a quiet icon whose greatness reveals itself only to those willing to listen.
