The 2011 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is a red wine produced by Chateau Rayas in the Southern Rhone region of France. This vintage is a proprietary blend with an alcohol content of 15.0% and is sealed with a cork.
Professional reviews generally paint a positive picture of this wine. Vinous rated it 94 points and described it as having a "bright ruby-red" color with an "exotic bouquet" of black raspberry, incense, Asian spices, and blood orange. The review notes that the wine exhibits an "impressive blend of depth and vivacity" and finishes with "outstanding focus and thrust and gentle tannic grip." Vinous concludes that the wine disproves the notion that 2011 couldn't produce outstanding wines.
James Suckling's website awarded this wine an excellent 96 points, highlighting its distinctive style. Reviewer Ned Goodwin MW likened the wine's aroma to "entering a Moroccan souk to the smell of incense, sweet dates, clove, and tamarind." He described it as "sweet and supple, with pixelated tannins and a waft of gentle freshness," recommending it for consumption immediately.
Jeb Dunnuck, who gave the wine 91 points, praised it for its "pretty, perfumed" nature, noting the wine's "moderately concentrated, open, and complex style" characteristic of the 2011 vintage. He appreciated its "great nose of sweet kirsch liqueur, white pepper, dried flowers, and Provençal herbs," and described its mouthfeel as "layered, silky, seductive" with "soft tannins and outstanding length." Dunnuck noted that while it may not stand up to the truly great vintages of Rayas, it still offers the unique character of its terroir.
Lastly, Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider gave it 94 points, describing it as "medium-bodied, lighter, elegant, fresh, vibrant-styled" with a core of "sweet, earthy, spicy kirsch" and a "finesse-edged finish." He mentioned that the wine is close to fully developed and recommended drinking it between 2024 and 2031.
In summary, the 2011 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve is generally well-received for its complex aromas and flavors, although it is noted to be a lighter vintage compared to other years.
