| |
|
The spirit of Jacques Reynaud, the godfather of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is always present. When the legendary founder of Château Rayas died suddenly in 1997, his wife asked their nephew, Emmanuel Reynaud, to take the reins at both Château Rayas and Château de Fonsalette. Already making wines at his father’s Château des Tours, Emmanuel agreed.
He is somewhat reclusive and can be found working his vineyards at most any time of day, every day. Emmanuel does not revel in the fame and notoriety that come with making such sought-after and acclaimed wines. Still, he continues to carry the mantle of his famous forebears, producing hauntingly aromatic wines at his three estates: Château Rayas, Château des Tours, and Château de Fonsalette.
|
| | 2 bottles 2009 Rayas Chateau de Fonsalette Cotes du Rhone Reserve
Grenache |
| 2 bottles 2007 Chateau Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Rouge
$1250 bottle
Grenache
98 Points, Robert Parker “The Rayas 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is unequivocally the finest wine made here since Emmanuel Reynaud’s uncle, the late Jacques Reynaud, produced his brilliant 1995. The 2007 is a relatively dark ruby/purple-tinged wine, more intensely colored than most Rayas Chateauneufs tend to be, since they are made from 100% Grenache and color has never been one of their hallmarks. The extraordinarily youthful and still burgeoning aromatics of black raspberries, black cherries, truffles and licorice lead to a full-bodied, powerful Rayas with sweet tannin, adequate acidity, and an ethereal richness and unctuosity that delicately offers a sensual texture. It is full-bodied, concentrated and approachable, but won’t hit its peak for at least another 4-5 years and will last for 25 or more. This is a spectacular Rayas, the likes of which hasn’t existed at this qualitative level since 1995.” |
| 6 bottles 2017 Les Tours Grenache Blanc
$75 bottle
Rare White from this house, 100% Grenache Blanc. Superb.
|
| 6 bottles 2016 Chateau des Tours Cotes du Rhone Rouge
$75 bottle
Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah.
|
| 12 bottles 2016 Domaine des Tours Vaucluse Rouge
$60 bottle
Grenache, Counoise, Syrah, Cinsault, Merlot.
Situated in an old house flanked on both sides by tall towers (hence “des Tours”), Château des Tours is Emmanuel’s own family estate, which he took over from his father, Bernard, in 1989. Emmanuel is, at heart, a farmer, and here he grows food for his family, in addition to grapes. Like all Reynaud vineyards, these are tended with the same organic methods, manually plowed, harvested much later than other producers and centered around a reverence for old-vine Grenache.
Château des Tours is located in Sarrians, Côtes-du-Rhône, just outside Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Weighty, complex and savory, the wines produced here are among the most well-regarded, sought-after bottles of the appellation. |
| | | | | View this email online if it doesn't display correctly |
| |
