Wine Wiki

chateau-des-tours

3 min read

Chateau des Tours

Overview

Chateau des Tours is part of the Chateau Rayas stable, run by Emmanuel Reynaud in Sarrians. JLL notes the wines carry “the qualities implied by” the Rayas connection. The Vacqueyras red is a 25+ year project as a rule, demanding patience to emerge.

Appellations

Key Wines

  • Vacqueyras Chateau des Tours red — 90-92% Grenache planted in 1955 at Sarrians, the rest Syrah; a 25+ year wine
  • Cotes du Rhone Chateau des Tours red — very good
  • Cotes du Rhone Chateau des Tours white — very good
  • Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Domaine des Tours red
  • Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Domaine des Tours white

Style Notes

Expect pepper, red fruits, and herbs in the mix. The Vacqueyras takes time to emerge and rewards long cellaring. The estate is very close to Rayas in its gentle, spiced features. There is also very good Cotes du Rhone in both red and white.

Key Wines & Vintage Notes (JLL / drinkRhone.com)

Vacqueyras Chateau des Tours red

90-92% 1955 Grenache, 8-10% Syrah (1981-96), on sand, west-facing. 80-85% concrete vat (Grenache), 10-15% used 600-litre casks (Syrah, bit of Grenache), 24-26 months. 20-25,000 bottles.

  • 2019 — “Sweet, curved bouquet, floral airs, raspberry, elderberry. Rather rigorous depth, very peppery, spicy. Intense heart, firm gras, muscular. Can move up a level with time.” From 2026, decant. Drink 2045-47.
  • 2012 — “Peppery, blood-like intensity with strawberry jam. Hidden depths, classic 2012 freshness, really good. High interest wine with its small evolution pulling the strings.” Emmanuel: “Full of finesse, freshness.” Drink 2039-41.
  • 2007 — “Calm, rounded bouquet, lightly sweet plum fruit. Wholesome mid-palate, tasty pockets, spice and fine late acidity.” Drink 2028-30.
  • 2005 — “A lesson in harmony — red cherry with a hovering fragrance. Peppery, backed by redcurrant fruits. Patience essential.” Drink 2028-30.
  • 1990 — “Bonny nose, sympa, very beau, very curvaceous. Garrigue, dusty stones. Very precise run of red fruit. Grand Vin de Caractere — wines like this, all in understated, pure quality, are very hard to find these days.” Drink 2020-22.

Cotes du Rhone Chateau des Tours red

65% Grenache, 20% Cinsault, 15% Syrah. 90% vat, 10% cask, 18 months. 45-55,000 bottles.

  • 2008 — “Strong pepper air. An explosion of chalky black pepper. An active, not a settled wine.” Drink 2018-19.
  • 2004 — “Stylish, nicely traditional Grenache red fruits with pepper. Very natural, a gentle wine. STGT wine.” Drink 2012-13.

Cotes du Rhone Chateau des Tours white

100% Grenache blanc (1978-80) from sandy terraces. Vat fermented, 8-9 months. 10,000 bottles.

  • 2007 — “Greatly stimulating and interesting, a wine of character. Hazelnut, fennel, aniseed, coconut. The finish is excellent, tight and fresh.” Drink 2019-20.
  • 2005 — “Solid, structured wine. Can live and be very compelling.” Drink 2021-22.

Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Domaine des Tours white

100% Clairette (1982) from sandy bottom of slope.

  • 2018 — “Noble oxidation, feels late harvested. Brilliant with red mullet and fennel confit.” Drink 2030-31.

My Tastings

Sources

  • sources/articles/JLL/Chateau_des_Tours.txt — Producer profile (John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkRhone.com)
  • sources/articles/JLL/rhone_wines_data.json — JLL / drinkRhone.com wine-by-wine vintage notes

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