Chateau Rayas La Pialade Cotes du Rhone, France 2012
La Pialade Côtes-du-Rhône Rouge 2012
La Pialade 2012 is a fantastic Rayas bottle, essentially the estate’s “second wine,” made from fruit from the Rayas and Fonsalette vineyards that doesn't go into the Grand Vin. Despite its Côtes-du-Rhône designation, it carries the unmistakable Rayas signature: pale color, perfume, elegance and extraordinary finesse.
The blend is approximately 80% Grenache, 15% Cinsault and 5% Syrah. The 2012 is now at a lovely stage of maturity, showing wild strawberry, raspberry, dried cherry, rose petal, sweet spice, dried herbs and earthy notes, with silky tannins and a long, savory finish.
2012 was a relatively warm, balanced vintage in the Southern Rhône, and the wine's age has allowed the fruit to evolve into the more tertiary, savory side of Rayas without losing its freshness.
