Château de Rayne Vigneau 2000

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Château de Rayne Vigneau 2000

Tasting Notes

Appearance
This white wine reveals a bright, intense golden colour, which evolves over time towards deep gold hues with slightly orange tints.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with scents of candied citrus fruits, such as mandarin, mingled with notes of apricot and honey. This is enriched by delicate touches of sweet spices such as cinnamon, along with nuances of vanilla and almond derived from its time in barrel.

Palate
The palate is opulent, sweet and full-bodied, offering a rich, almost oily texture. This generosity is perfectly balanced by a ripe acidity that lends freshness, leading to a harmonious finish with lingering flavours of candied fruit.

Food and Wine Pairings

This wine pairs perfectly with delicate white meats, such as roast poultry, whose tender flesh is beautifully enhanced by the spicy, fruity notes of this sweet wine.

Serving and Ageing

It is recommended to serve Château de Rayne Vigneau 2000 at a temperature of between 6 and 8°C. Having reached full maturity, this vintage is past its peak and should be enjoyed without delay in order to fully appreciate its refined complexity.

The Expression of a Great Sweet Wine from the Heights of the Sauternes Appellation

The Estate

Founded in the early 17th century by Gabriel de Vigneau, Château de Rayne Vigneau is a historic name in the Bordeaux region. Located in the commune of Bommes, this estate was classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855. The property is renowned for its gravelly ridge, which legend claims conceals precious stones. Since 2015, the estate has been owned by the Financière Trésor du Patrimoine group, chaired by Derek Rémy Smith. Today, it stands as a reliable benchmark, combining tradition and innovation.

The Vineyard

The terroir extends over one of the highest points of the Sauternes appellation, at an altitude of around 75 metres. The vines, on average around thirty years old, grow on a geological mosaic comprising a clay-gravel ridge, sandy soils and a limestone subsoil. This elevated position, combined with the proximity of the Ciron river, encourages the formation of autumn morning mists, which are essential for the development of noble rot. The estate is managed according to certified sustainable farming principles, with rigorous plot-by-plot management and limited yields.

The Vintage

The year 2000 offered favourable climatic conditions in the vineyard, allowing the berries to reach excellent ripeness. The growing cycle resulted in harmonious overripening thanks to the action of botrytis.

Winemaking and Ageing

The grapes are harvested by hand through successive selective pickings, in order to select only those berries perfectly affected by noble rot. After a low-temperature fermentation, Château de Rayne Vigneau 2000 is aged for around twenty-four months in barrels, of which 40 to 50% are new.

Grape Varieties

74% Sémillon
24% Sauvignon Blanc
2% Muscadelle