HALVES
"Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 95 Points
The 2021 Rayne-Vigneau is fabulous. It offers up scents of grilled pineapple, apricot, orange preserves, spice and crème brulée. Exotic yet also light on its feet, Rayne-Vigneau is super-expressive in this tasting. Readers will find so much do admire. Quite simply, the 2021 is compelling. Drinking Window 2027 - 2041 Reviewed December 2023
Neal Martin, Vinous.com 94 Points
The 2021 Château de Rayne-Vigneau has a rather conservative bouquet that gradually opens with yellow flowers, jasmine, dried honey and quince. The palate is well-balanced with a viscous entry—one of the spicier Sauternes, with ample weight on the finish. This has a lot to offer, and it should age well in bottle. Tasted twice in bottle and half-bottle. Drinking Window 2026 - 2046. Reviewed November 2023"
Rayne Vigneau’s vineyard lies on a splendid gravel mound, overlooking Sauternes near the village of Bommes and forming the third highest point in the area after Yquem. The official 1855 classification recognised Vigneau among the top wines of Sauternes. In 1867, the well-known wine broker Daney ranked it in first place, immediately after Yquem. Albert de Pontac, a great-nephew of Madame de Rayne, named the estate 'Rayne Vigneau' in her honour.
In 1961 the estate was divided. Between 2004 and 2015, Château de Rayne Vigneau belonged to CA Grands Crus, a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole Group, which set up an improvement plan for the entire vineyard. Now the Château de Rayne Vigneau, acquired by the Trésor du Patrimoine group, is managed by Vincent Labergere, the Director, and the consultant oenologist, Henri Boyer.
The Château lies at the centre of a single block vineyard of 84 hectares. Planted on Garonne gravels, lying on a clay base, the vines are an average of 30 years old, divided between 74% Sémillon, 24% Sauvignon Blanc, which brings freshness, and 2% Muscadelle.
