2001 Château Rayne-Vigneau
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Tasting notes
The 2001 Château de Rayne Vigneau has quite an intense nose of orange cordial, pineapple, saffron and almond scents, not as delineated as its its peers, yet nicely focused. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, viscous and tangy, offering flavors of marmalade and quince. Perhaps it needs a little more nerve on the finish, but it feels sustained in the mouth. Give this a little more time because it is evolving the sophistication that was missing in its youth.
Critic scores
Neal Martin
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The Rayne Vigneau has a lifted bouquet with honeycomb, dried pineapple and dried quince that gains intensity with aeration. The palate is ripe and spicy on the entry with mandarin and Seville orange marmalade. There is very good weight and cohesion here, long and gently spiced on the finish. The estate has produced superior wines in recent years, but there is still plenty to enjoy here, even if it lacks the sophistication of some of its peers.
Broad and gorgeous – rather more forward than the Lafaurie Peyraguey served immediately before. There's enough stuffing for a long life however. (JR)
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.