Château Rayas Réservé, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Château Rayas operates in total isolation. If Châteauneuf-du-Pape is an anomaly within the broader Southern Rhône, Rayas is a distinct island within the appellation itself, trading on absolute international scarcity. Emmanuel Reynaud manages the estate, harvesting pure grenache from unusual, cool, sandy soils surrounded by pine forests. Bypassing the heavy extraction and multi-variety blending of its neighbours, this neutral-foudre vinification yields an unorthodox wine of intense aromatic precision and significant longevity.