Chateau de Rayne Vigneau 2022

Subtle, restrained, with lavender blossoms and acacia, followed by candied fruits; a denser yet highly elegant palate, refined, lively, full of tension, and exceptionally long. An outstanding sweet wine of great elegance.

Shy and introverted at this stage, the 2022 Château de Rayne Vigneau exhales aromas of herbs, fern, licorice and ripe pear. Moderately weighted, sweet and juicy, it’s a bit heavy, with notes of menthol and spices on the finish. This blend of 73% Sémillon, 24% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Muscadelle was produced at a yield of 14 hectoliters per hectare.

Juicy and frankly ripe, with mouthfilling apricot, peach and guava flavors laced with a hint of green fig. Ginger and pie crust notes add range on the flattering finish. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2040. 3,000 cases made, 450 cases imported.

Succulent and so appealing straight away, clean and precise, with a lovely sleek frame and cool freshness. Not as sweet, heavy or fleshy as some; this is more sherbet lemon, tangy, taut and tense, with streaks of minerality and salted caramel. Juicy, unctuous, bright, filling – just gorgeous. On the sleek side, it’s not fleshy, but it’s so compelling, approachable and easy to drink. 150 g/l residual sugar.

73% Sémillon, 24% Sauvignon Blanc, 3% Muscadelle. RS 150 g/l. Cask sample. Rich, golden hue. Zesty and fresh with mandarin, citrus and roasted notes. Both expressive and complex at the same time. Palate rich but lively. Bitter-botrytised freshness on the finish. Persistence and balance. (JL)

The 2022 Rayne-Vigneau has a pleasant, white flower-tinged bouquet with acacia honey coming through with time. It just lacks a bit of horsepower. The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening, fine acidity, light and fresh, with a touch of ginger on the finish. I think it just needs time in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.

Layers of sweet, spicy, white peaches, tangerine, mango, and pineapple, all coated with honey, hit all the right pleasure buttons. The wine is sweet, refined, fresh, and creamy from start to finish. In fact, this is already a treat in your glass. Drink from 2025-2045. 92-94 pts.

Light golden yellow, silver reflections. Fresh yellow apple, nuances of peach and honey, meadow herbs in the background. Medium body, fine gooseberry nuances, well structured, full of finesse and integrated fruit expression, elegant and lasting, mineral in the finish.

Slightly deeper hued, the 2022 Château De Rayne Vigneau has a complex, ripe profile with aromas and flavors of marmalade, toasted bread, and caramelized peach. It’s wonderfully textured and full, with integrated acidity and a great finish. The blend is 73% Semillon, 24% Sauvignon Blanc, and 3% Muscadelle.

Restrained start, dried chamomile blossom, peach zest, acacia honey and buttery speculoos. On the multilayered palate, oily texture, vibrant drive and powerful body. In the long, aromatic finish, yellow dried fruit, baby pineapple and candied honey.

Vivid stone fruits, apricot and grilled peaches that burst from the glass on first opening, maintaining a velvety texture across the palate, with tarte tatin adding sweetness, and a slight dip on the finish. Clearly an opulent vintage here. 14 hl/ha yield, Vincent Labergère director. Single-point upgrade.

Bitter orange peel lends its tangy freshness to a basket of riper fruits (apricot, mirabelle plum, fresh pineapple). A real favorite for this round, creamy texture, where all the summer fruits blend with more exotic notes. The finish features a lightly spicy, minty thread that brings lightness and energy.

The intensity of Rayne Vigneau 2022 activates every pleasure receptor! Add the displayed subtlety and complexity, and your mouth is already watering even before you taste the wine. Notes of confectionery, marzipan, Corinth raisins, passion fruit, and fully ripe mango are just part of the many aromas present. The palate’s dense, suave character calmly takes up the torch and confirms what the bouquet promised. This world of sweetness and pleasure is well channeled to avoid exuberance or saturation, thanks to fine bitters that are both structuring and refreshing. A delicious, engaging, and persistent wine. A great success. I find it far more impressive than during the en primeur tastings… and it’s better this way than the other way around!

The nose is fruity, fresh, and delicate in its restrained power. It offers a gentle intensity, with notes of fresh kumquat, sweet/fresh mandarin and, more subtly, roasted pineapple, combined with small touches of apricot blossom and roasted tones, as well as fine hints of spices, caramelized apple, and a discreet hint of nougat in the background. The palate is fresh and fruity, offering roundness, smoothness, a slight syrupy side, indulgence, tension, precision, good balance, and a slightly elongated profile. It shows notes of crushed apple, small jammy fruits and, more lightly, mandarin in syrup, combined with touches of roasted pineapple, hints of mango and nougat, a hint of vanilla, and a subtle, almost fresh hazelnut note on the finish. Roundness, minerality, balance, and a slight spiciness on the finish.

Yellow color with green highlights. Intense, fruity, botrytized nose. A touch of citrus. Caressing from the very first sip, juicy mid-palate, the wine unfolds smoothly on a melt-in-the-mouth body, with a very present floral note of violet on one of the samples. Lovely, delicately spiced finish. A delicious wine with a beguiling poise. Blend: 73% Sémillon, 24% Sauvignon, 3% Muscadelle. Alcohol: 13.7% – pH: 3.86. Residual sugar: 147 g/L.