The 2001 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape is more structured and slightly deeper ruby-colored than the light-colored 2000. It also possesses more acidity as well as depth. This terroir-driven effort reveals aromas of raspberries and sweet kirsch as well as a medium-bodied, vigorously fresh, lively style. There is also good flavor authority. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and consume it over the following 15. Drink: 2007 - 2022
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #151 Feb 2004

Medium red. Nose initially dominated by meat, toasted nuts and orange peel; showed a lively raspberry aroma with aeration. Tight, dense and peppery on entry, then lush and silky in the middle palate, with strong pepper and spice notes. Less fruity in its youth than the Pignan, and considerably less showy. But this really coats the palate and lingers on the back end. Will require a good eight to ten years of aging, but will it be a very good or a great Rayas?

The three component parts of the 2001 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape range from light to medium ruby in color. All possess excellent sweetness, beautiful kirsch liqueur and strawberry fruit notes, plenty of glycerin, and a velvety-textured, ripe, concentrated mouthfeel. It is unquestionably an outstanding Rayas, but it does not appear that it will ever merit a score higher than the low nineties. It will be ready to drink early in life, and should age for 10-15 years, much like such vintages as 1999 and 1994. A disclaimer is in order concerning the following tasting notes. While the bottled 2000s were easy to taste, the 2001 barrel tastings at Rayas were challenging because there was no electricity in the cellars. Rayas was one of many estates where electricity had been cut off by the floods of September 8 and 9. Hence, the tasting was conducted by flashlight ... a first in my 25 years of experience. It was hard to get a grasp of the barrel samples' colors when viewed by flashlight, but they appeared to be light to medium ruby. However, darkly pigmented wines are rarely produced at this domaine. There have been some deep-colored vintages of Rayas (1995, 1990, and 1989), but most are surprisingly weak in color, yet intense in flavor. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Martine's Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400