2004 RAYAS Rouge 2004

(10-2007) Supple, with very elegant structure guiding the raspberry and cassis fruit, cinnamon, mineral and black tea notes through the lengthy, stylish finish. Very pure, with a great silky mouthfeel, this gains depth as it airs in the glass.

(02-2007) The deep ruby 2004 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape is a structured wine that seems to have closed down from the component part tasting last year. It is medium-bodied with sweet, ripe black cherry and raspberry notes, some crushed rocks, and that distinctive minerality that Rayas seems to provide. The wine reveals more structure this year, and therefore seems to need 2-4 years of bottle age. Stylistically, it is more than just a coincidence that it resembles the 1994, which has turned out very well and is beginning to drink beautifully in the classic Rayas style.