1997 Rayne Vigneau
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Oaky still with a kirsch overlay yet great tension too. This wine is absolutely massive, the biggest and most powerful in the tasting. Everything required for a long life is packed into this blockbuster but there is no need to pull the cork for ages. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
This wine exhibits a syrupy pineapple-scented nose, medium body, moderate sweetness, and a fruit-driven personality with little complexity. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2017. This wine is an uninspiring, mainstream, blatantly commercial example of Sauternes. (No tasting note was provided in Issue 128. We have instead included the text of the tasting note from Issue 122)
This wine exhibits a syrupy pineapple-scented nose, medium body, moderate sweetness, and a fruit-driven personality with little complexity. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2017. Apr 2000, www.robertparker.com
Restrained aromas of orange peel, lime, pineapple and spicy oak. Cooler flavors of spice, peach and dried fruits. Very good but not outstanding intensity and concentration. But very well balanced, and persistent on the finish. Honey and marzipan notes give the back end a lovely sweetness.
About the producer

The 1855 classification placed Ch. de Rayne Vigneau just behind Ch. d’Yquem – also a nearby neighbour. Its 84-hectare vineyard sits in a single block on gravel mounds, overlooking the Ciron in Sauternes, and producing impressive sweet wines.