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
“The Rayne-Vigneau 2016 offers a generous bouquet of notes of white chocolate, quince, orange peel, and just a hint of smokiness in the background. The palate is very well-balanced, opening with a tangy burst of marmalade and ginger. Offering beautiful cohesion, plenty of vigor, and great intensity on the finish, this is certainly one of the best Sauternes of the vintage.” (Vinous N. Martin 2020) - Purity, precision, and power are the watchwords! - Delivered in a wooden case for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (excluding Pickup Point delivery method)
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Eye
A beautiful color with lemon-yellow highlights
Nose
A delicate aroma of passion fruit and orange blossom
Palate
With beautiful intensity, the palate offers a delicately resinous freshness. The power then unfolds, guided by a precise and well-defined structure.
Serve
At 8-11°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink from
2023
Drink before
2045
Guard
2050
Food and wine pairings
Enjoy it with roast chicken and asparagus, foie gras, Roquefort cheese, or chocolate cake
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated (2019 guide) 18/20 (Reference wine)
4-Star Rated Estate (Producers of the very highest quality, the pride of French viticulture)
About the wine:
The wine has aged beautifully and will not disappoint in the bottle, with sumptuous fruit and an excellent balance of alcohol, acidity, and sugar. Best enjoyed between 2022 and 2046.
About the estate:
Derek Smith, a Franco-American who made his fortune in the mail-order business, is a lover of fine Sauternes wines and a discerning patron who is working to revitalize this Premier Cru Classé—a vineyard with magnificent terroir—through innovative approaches to marketing, sales, and wine tourism. The quality of the wine improves with each new vintage.
Guide Hachette des vins
Rated wine (2021 guide): 2 stars (Outstanding wine)
Rated estate (2022 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer’s wines are regularly recognized by the guide)
About the wine:
Located in Bommes, this vineyard is undoubtedly one of the appellation’s finest terroirs, and it always takes a little time to reveal its full potential. Currently understated in its aromas of candied fruit and beeswax, this 2016 vintage—with its beautiful density, length, and richness—possesses the concentration and opulence of great vintages. It will take just a few more years for you to appreciate its harmony. Best enjoyed between 2023 and 2035.
About the estate:
Famous for the multicolored pebbles in its clay-gravel soil and, above all, for its Sauternes wines, this 84-hectare classified growth was once owned by the de Pontac family—Catherine de Pontac, who became Madame de Rayne, gave it its name in the 19th century. , then came under the ownership of the Cordier-Mestrezat wine merchant, 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, a specialist in mail-order sales.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rated (2019 guide) 94/100 (Outstanding wine)
About the wine:
Pale lemon-gold in color, the 2016 Château Rayne-Vigneau 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 brimming with decadent dried fruits that lend 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 wines of a high standard—you won’t be disappointed when tasting the wines from these estates)
About the estate:
Benefiting from a splendid terroir (often compared to that of Yquem), Rayne Vigneau was acquired in 2005 by Crédit Agricole Grands Crus, which, over the course of ten years, made significant investments in both the vineyards and the facilities. The estate was sold in 2015 to the Trésor du Patrimoine group, founded in 1990 by Derek Rémy Smith. The team remained in place. Vincent Labergère, the director, aims to expand the brand’s distribution with its sub-brands (Clos L’Abeilley and Madame de Rayne) and to increase production of dry white wine.
Vinous
Wine rated (2020 guide) 94/100
About the wine:
Rayne-Vigneau 2016 offers a generous bouquet of notes of white chocolate, quince, orange peel, and just a hint of smokiness in the background. The palate is very well-balanced, opening with a tangy note of marmalade and ginger. Offering beautiful cohesion, plenty 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 the wine:
Golden yellow. An inviting, pleasant bouquet with notes of toasted almonds, mirabelle plums, peaches, and green tea. I also detect notes from the aging process, with hints of coffee and freshly baked bread. Ultimately, these various aromas transport me to the heart of Christmas markets in Germany or Switzerland, with their scents of gingerbread, cinnamon, and mulled wine. On the palate, the wine is dense, compact, and possesses a structure that will allow it to age well. The finish is lively, fruity, subtly bitter, and very promising! 2026–2051