Château de Rayne Vigneau Sauternes 2016 - 1er Cru Classé
95/100
Yves Beck
18/20
Bettane & Desseauve
94/100
Robert Parker
2*Étoiles
Hachette
94/100
Vinous
"Rayne-Vigneau 2016 exudes a generous bouquet of white chocolate, quince, orange peel, and just a hint of smoke in the background. The palate is very well balanced with a tangy start of marmalade and ginger. Offering beautiful cohesion, great vigor, and intense finish, this is certainly one of the best Sauternes of the vintage. " (Vinous N. Martin 2020) - Purity, precision, and power are the key words! - Delivery in wooden crates for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (excluding Point Relais delivery method).
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Eye
Very beautiful color with lemon yellow highlights
Nose
Nose of passion fruit and orange blossom
Mouth
Beautifully intense, the palate offers a delicately resinous freshness. The power then reveals itself, channeled by a precise and well-structured framework.
Serve
At 8-11°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink from
2023
Drink before
2045
Guard
2050
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy with roast chicken and asparagus, foie gras, Roquefort cheese, or chocolate cake.
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated (2019 guide) 18/20 (Reference wine)
4-star estate (Producers of very high quality, the pride of French vineyards)
About wine:
The wine has developed perfectly and will not disappoint in the bottle, with sumptuous fruitiness and an excellent balance of alcohol, acidity, and sugar. Drink between 2022 and 2046.
About the estate:
Derek Smith, a French-American who made his fortune in mail order sales, is a lover of great Sauternes wines and an intelligent patron who is working to renovate this premier cru classé, with its magnificent terroir, innovating in marketing, sales, and wine tourism. The quality of the wine improves with each new vintage.
Guide Hachette des vins
Wine rating (2021 guide) 2 stars (Outstanding wine)
Rated estate (2022 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer's wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About wine:
Located in Bommes, this cru undoubtedly occupies one of the appellation's finest terroirs, and it always takes a little time to reveal its full potential. Currently discreet in its aromas of candied fruit and beeswax, this 2016 vintage is beautifully dense, long, and rich, with the concentration and opulence of the great vintages. All you need now is a few years to appreciate its harmony. Best enjoyed between 2023 and 2035.
About the estate:
Famous for the multicolored pebbles of its clay-gravel soil and above all for its Sauternes wines, this 84-hectare classified growth was owned by the Pontac family. Catherine de Pontac, who became Madame de Rayne, gave it its name in the 19th century. It then became part of the Cordier-Mestrezat wine merchant group, before being acquired in 2004 by Crédit Agricole. Finally, in 2015, Crédit Agricole sold the majority of its shares to the distributor Trésor du Patrimoine, which specializes in mail order sales.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rating (2019 guide) 94/100 (Outstanding wine)
About wine:
Pale lemon gold in color, Château Rayne-Vigneau 2016 opens with bold notes of musky melon, fruitcake, exotic spices, and beeswax with underlying hints of cedar and ginger. The palate is very rich and bursting with decadent dried fruit, lending creaminess and opulence to the very long, spicy finish. A hedonistic style for those who prefer wines full of energy.
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Rated estate (2022 guide) 1*Star (Up-and-coming stars or quality winemakers producing good-quality wines; you won't be disappointed when tasting the wines from these estates)
About the estate:
Benefiting from splendid terroir (often compared to that of Yquem), Rayne Vigneau was bought in 2005 by Crédit Agricole Grands Crus, which invested heavily in both the vineyards and the buildings over a ten-year period. The estate was sold in 2015 to the Trésor du Patrimoine group, created in 1990 by Derek Rémy Smith. The team remained in place. Vincent Labergère, the director, wants to strengthen the distribution of the brand with its variations (Clos L'Abeilley and Madame de Rayne) and develop the production of dry white wine.
Vinous
Wine rated (2020 guide) 94/100
About wine:
Rayne-Vigneau 2016 exudes a generous bouquet of white chocolate, quince, orange peel, and just a hint of smoke in the background. The palate is very well balanced with a tangy start of marmalade and ginger. Offering beautiful cohesion, lots of vigor, and great intensity on the finish, this is certainly one of the best Sauternes of the vintage. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Best enjoyed between 2022 and 2050.
Yves Beck
Wine rated (2018 guide) 95/100
About wine:
Golden yellow. Inviting, pleasant bouquet with notes of toasted almonds, mirabelle plums, peaches, and green tea. I also detect notes of aging with a hint of coffee and freshly baked bread. Ultimately, these different aromas transport me to Christmas markets in Germany or Switzerland with their scents of gingerbread, cinnamon, and mulled wine. On the palate, the wine is dense, compact and has a structure that will allow it to age well. Lively, fruity finish, subtly bitter and very promising! 2026-2051