Two component cuvées tasted. Cuvée #1 (20- to 30-year-old vines picked late): Medium red. Explosive aromas of raspberry liqueur, fresh cherry and smoke. Very rich, almost liqueur-like, with hints of leather and game. Impressively ripe and deep. Has sound acidity and a firm tannic underpinning. Cuvée #2 (from a higher percentage of older vines, picked earlier): Deeper red. Much less forthcoming on the nose. More intensely flavored and powerful, with excellent grip and structure for the year. Strong peppery quality in the mouth and on the aftertaste. Tannins are substantial but ripe. A robust sample. The combination of these two cuvées should produce a strong wine.

This lighter-styled wine appears diluted in terms of color, but it possesses surprising quantities of sweet black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of resin, licorice, and tobacco. It is a medium to full-bodied Chateauneuf with far more flavor and intensity than its light-ish colors suggest. The wine requires consumption over the next 5-8 years. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400

This lighter-styled wine appears diluted in terms of color, but it possesses surprising quantities of sweet black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of resin, licorice, and tobacco. It is a medium to full-bodied Chateauneuf with far more flavor and intensity than its light-ish colors suggest. The wine requires consumption over the next 5-8 years. Drink: 2003 - 2011
-Robert Parker, eRobertParker.com Jan 2003

A question mark hangs over this lovely wine, like the Nerthe 2002 white, generously donated by Michael and Marie-Thérèse Dobbs-Higginson from their cellar not too far from La Verrière. The bottle of Rayas had lost its distinctive triangular neck label with the vintage on it and, since I was not present when it was opened, I cannot be 100% sure it was the 1997 as Michael suggested. It certainly tasted fully mature and I would not be surprised if it turned out to be older. Deep rust red colour. Pungent, rich, so long. Yes there was a great deal of sweetness – and gaminess – but the finish really zipped it up and kept the whole experience refreshing. Admirable. (JR)