Chateau Rayas, Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve 2008

"A much lighter style of wine, but showing far better now that it has had some time in bottle, is Emmanuel Reynaud’s 2008 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape. With a classic nose of kirsch liqueur intermixed with Provencal herbs, sandy, loamy soil notes, some licorice and steak tartare, this wine is fleshy, medium to full-bodied, round, generous, and surprisingly seductive and luscious. I wouldn’t be surprised if many tasters prefer this over the bigger, richer, more structured and potentially far greater 2007. This is a sensational effort and one of the finest wines of the vintage, the most challenging year in Chateauneuf du Pape since the historical deluge in 2002.” – Robert Parker