It’s hard to overstate how beloved (and sought-after) Château Rayas is. Though the estate has been in the Reynaud family since the late 1800s, it grew in acclaim in the 1970s under “the godfather of Châteauneuf-du-Pape,” Jacques Reynaud, who championed human-scale work: low yields for maximum grape quality, manual harvest, even plowing by horse. Now under the direction of his nephew Emmanuel Reynaud, the estate works under three labels: Château de Fonsalette, Château Rayas, and Château des Tours. 

Château des Tours is a 40-hectare estate, planted with grains, olive trees alongside the vines. It’s also where winemaker and estate head Emmanuel Reynaud is based. Their 2019 Cotes du Rhone is 65% grenache, 20% syrah, and 15% cinsault, featuring vivid notes of ripe cherry, fig, thyme, oil-cured black olive, and star anise. A long finish, powerful acidity, and structured tannin. Gorgeous now, but also a promising candidate for some time in the cellar. 

This wine is a pre-sale with expected arrival of end of year.