100% Grenache planted to soils of fine red sand base with smaller pebbles. The vineyard for Pignan is located at Château Rayas behind a stand of pine trees. It is a slightly warmer site with some rocks scattered through the vineyard.
Château Rayas is a leading producer in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation of the Rhône Valley. This is one of the region's most prestigious estates, and its wines fetch some of the highest prices in southern France. Much about Rayas is unusual. Firstly, the estate's red wine is made solely from Grenache, unlike most Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines that typically contain Syrah, Mourvèdre and a range of other varieties. Secondly, the estate's 13 hectares (32 acres) of vineyard face north, and do not have any "galets roulés" – the rounded stones so closely associated with the appellation and often found littering vineyard sites in Châteauneuf. Thirdly, the estate's wines are matured in larger-format, "double-piéce" 450-liter barrels. The spirit of Jacques Reynaud, the godfather of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, is always present. When the legendary founder of Château Rayas died suddenly in 1997, his wife asked their nephew, Emmanuel Reynaud, to take the reins at both Château Rayas and Château Fonsalette. Already making wines at his father’s Château des Tours, Emmanuel agreed. He's somewhat reclusive, and can be found working his vineyards at most any time of day, every day. He does not revel in the fame and notoriety that come with making such sought-after and acclaimed wines, but continues to carry the mantle of his famous forebears, producing hauntingly aromatic wines at his three estates: Château Rayas, Château de Fonsalette, and Château des Tours.
The Grenache for Pignan is not destemmed, and whole bunches are crushed and fermented for 10-14 days, with native yeast and in concrete vats. After malolactic fermentation, the wines are aged for another 12 months in 80-100 year old foudres. "These foudres were around when my grandfather was alive, and he bought them secondhand," explains Emmanuel. The wines are lightly filtered before bottling.
(91-94 points) “A blend of 100% Grenache from the neighboring Pignan lieu-dit, the 2012 Pignan Chateauneuf du Pape is loaded with sappy underbrush, resin, green peppercorn and sweet red fruits that give way to a medium-bodied, pure and elegantly styled palate. Hard to resist and a supple, sexy effort, it should have a decade or more of longevity.” – Parker’s WA
(92-94 points) “Deep red. Sexy, high-pitched aromas of fresh red berries, lavender and Indian spices, plus a touch of olive. Sappy and precise, with very good lift and clarity to its black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. Puts on weight with air and finishes sappy, penetrating and very long, with slow-building tannins. Quite rich and powerful for this bottling but still elegant.” – Vinous
