Château de Rayne Vigneau Sauternes 2016 - 1er Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

The wine has evolved perfectly and will not disappoint in bottle, with sumptuous fruit and excellent alcohol-acid-sugar balance. Drink between 2022 and 2046.

About the domain :

Derek Smith, a Franco-American who made his fortune in the mail-order business, is a lover of great Sauternes and an intelligent patron of the arts 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

About the wine:

Situated in Bommes, this cru unquestionably occupies one of the best terroirs in the appellation, and always needs a little time to reveal all its qualities. Discreet for the moment, with its aromas of candied fruit and beeswax, this dense, long and rich 2016 possesses the concentration and opulence of great vintages. All you need is a few more years to appreciate its harmony. Drink between 2023 and 2035.

About the domain :

Famous for the multicolored pebbles of its clayey gravel terroir and, above all, for its Sauternes, this 84-hectare cru classé was once owned by the de Pontac family - Catherine de Pontac, later Madame de Rayne, gave it her name in the 19th century. It was then acquired by the Cordier-Mestrezat wine merchant, before being bought by Crédit Agricole in 2004. In 2015, the latter sold the majority of its shareholding to distance-selling distributor Trésor du patrimoine.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Pale lemon-gold in color, Château Rayne-Vigneau 2016 opens with bold notes of musky melon, fruitcake, exotic spices and beeswax with underlying nuances of cedar and ginger. The palate is very rich, full of decadent dried fruit that lends creaminess and opulence to the very long, spicy finish. A hedonistic style for those who prefer high-energy wines.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

Benefiting from a splendid terroir (often compared to that of Yquem), Rayne Vigneau was bought in 2005 by Crédit Agricole Grands Crus, which for ten years conceded heavy investments in both vineyards and buildings. The vineyard 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 manager, 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 A. Galloni

About the wine:

Rayne-Vigneau 2016 exudes a generous bouquet of white chocolate chips, quince, orange peel, and just a hint of smokiness in the background. The palate is very well balanced, with a tangy start of marmalade and ginger. With great cohesion, vigor and intensity on the finish, this is certainly one of the best Sauternes of the vintage. Tasted blind at Southwold's annual tasting. To be enjoyed between 2022 and 2050.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Golden yellow. An inviting, pleasant bouquet with notes of roasted almonds, mirabelle plums, peaches and green tea. I also detect notes of breeding, with a hint of coffee and freshly baked bread. Finally, these different smells take me back 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 endowed with a structure that will carry it over time. The finish is lively, fruity, subtly bitter and very promising! 2026-2051