Visiting Château de Rayne Vigneau

This January I spent four weeks visiting and tasting more than 1200 wines in Bordeaux. The main purpose was to taste 2022 liverables, meaning the wines leaving the estates this winter and spring, to hit the shelf sometime over the next months. 

But I also wanted to have a look at 2021 and 2020. But my second aim was to visit estates that I have either never been to, or haven't been to in a long time. I have been wanting to do this tripe for several years, but then Covid hit, and after that, my schedule has just been som incredibly busy elsewhere, so, now it was finally the time. 

First visit was in Sauternes and Château de Rayne Vigneau, a property I have only visited once before. I think we concluded that it was in 2014. So ten years ago. I do love Sauternes, and the wines from Rayne Vigneau is no exception. We had a very interesting talk about the importance of a light bitterness to deal with the residual sugar, in a Sauternes, to make it feel a bit drier on the palate. And how to balance that. 

We also talked about the unfortunate, but very real problems in selling these gorgeous wines in the market. But what this tasting and following tastings over the week spent in Sauternes and Pessac-Léognan also showed me, was how many wonderful dry white wines that are now emerging in this part of Bordeaux. The top Pessac-Léognan's have made gorgeous dry white wines for decades, as have the likes of Doisy Daëne and Yquem, but in the last decade or two, several more has occurred. But now it seems almost everyone make a lovely dry white. It was my first sip of the relatively new Château de Rayne Vigneau Blanc Sec, and I encountered it again a few weeks later. A wonderful dry white. Le Sec de Rayne Vigneau is a bargain! As is the Sauternes. And drinking a few bottles a year of Sauternes, with friends will only make you happier. I'm sure. 

2016 Le Sec de Rayne Vigneau

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some citrus, minerals, almost saline note nose. Fresh acidity, apples, grapefruits, minerals, saline notes, nuanced and detailed, elegant, long. 90

 

2022 Château de Rayne Vigneau Blanc Sec

Pale lemon yellow. 2000 bottles made. First vintage commercialised, but has been made since 2012. Apples, some grapefruits, honey melon, light vanilla note, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, apples, citrus, saline, oysters, nuanced, minerals, detailed, slight bitterness to the finish. 93

 

2014 Le Sec de Rayne Vigneau

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus, nuanced, floral, minerals, deatiled nose. Fresh acidity, apples, lemons, citrus, bright, brilliant, lovely wine, drinking superbly now. Saline finish. Somewhat smoky finish, despite no wood in the winemaking. 91

 

2015 Madame de Rayne

Towards amber. Peach, pineapples, nuanced, detailed, fruit forward, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, peach, apricots, elegant texture, smooth, rounded, nuanced, lovely balance. Good length. 89

 

2021 Château de Rayne Vigneau 

Golden. Peach, apricots, pineapples, fruit forward, nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, apples, nuanced, juicy, fruit driven, elegant, one of the few estates with a fairly normal production in 2021. 91

 

2017 Château de Rayne Vigneau 

Golden. Richer nose, intense, fruit forward, nuanced, layered and detailed nose. Complex. Some tea notes.Fresh acidity, peach, detailed, nuanced, juicy, apricots, pineapples, refined, nuanced, long finish. A beauty! Incredibly charming! 93

 

2009 Château de Rayne Vigneau 

Giolden, amber tints. Creamy, rich, intense nose, apricots, peach, pineapples, fruit forward. Fresh acidity, intense, creamy, richer, layered, nuanced, deep, stunning concentration, refined, long. 94

 

2005 Château de Rayne Vigneau 

Golden,. Amber tints. Peach, apricots, some forest floor notes, nuanced, detailed, bright yet maturing nose.Fresh acidity, detailed, nuanced, somewhat leaner body, fruit driven, peach, pineapples, long finish. In a tight spot right now. 93

 

2002 Château de Rayne Vigneau 

Amber. Richer, caramel, nuanced, detailed, fruit forward and developing. Also fruit stones. Fresh acidity, peach, apples, pineapples, lighter bodied, detailed, elegant, touch smoky, touch of salinity, long . 91