Château De Rayne Vigneau
Château De Rayne Vigneau

Château De Rayne Vigneau

Château Rayne Vigneau is a wine estate in the Sauternes region located in the commune of Bommes. It produces a sweet white wine of the same name and is among the premier crus of Sauternes in the official 1855 classification. Château Rayne Vigneau was established in the early 17th century and was long managed by the Pontac family. The château embodies a reliable value in the appellation, claiming, vintage after vintage, a style full of intensity, length, and freshness.

Read more

Filter

Products (4)

Filter

The history of Château Rayne Vigneau

 

Château Rayne Vigneau was established in the early 17th century. The Vigneau de Bommes referred to the vineyard, the Château, the Seigneury, and the Vigneau family, who were its first owners. Gabriel de Vigneau appears in documents as early as 1635. His son Étienne married Jeanne Sauvage, daughter of the lord of Yquem, and personally took charge of the property in 1681. Baroness de Rayne, née Catherine de Pontac, bought the Vigneau estate in 1834 (her great-nephew would pay tribute to her in 1892 by renaming the château to its current name: Rayne Vigneau). In 1855, the château was classified as a premier grand cru in the official classification of Sauternes wines. At the 1867 World's Fair, the 1861 vintage won the gold medal.

 

The château remained in the Pontac family until 1961, when the estate was dismantled. The family retained the château, outbuildings, and park, while the vineyard and winemaking facilities were sold to Mr. Georges Raoux before he sold the estate to the wine merchant company Mestrezat-Preller, owner of Château Grand-Puy Ducasse. The cellars were completely renovated in the early 1980s.

 

Since 2007, the château has adopted sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture. In 2014, Rayne Vigneau obtained HVE level 3 certification as a "Producer of vegan wines and Sauternes without added sulfur". Between 2004 and 2015, Château de Rayne Vigneau belonged to CA Grands Crus, a subsidiary of the Crédit Agricole Group, which implemented an optimization plan for the entire vineyard. Today, Château de Rayne Vigneau, purchased by the Trésor du Patrimoine group, is managed by Vincent Labergère, assisted by the advice of oenologist Henri Boyer.

 

What are the characteristics of Château Rayne Vigneau wines?

 

The vineyard spans 84 hectares in a single block on a vast ridge overlooking the Sauternes region. Its subsoil is composed of sandy gravel, resting on a clay base. The vines, averaging 30 years old, are divided between Sémillon (74%), Sauvignon Blanc (24%), which brings the typical fresh note to the Château's wines, and Muscadelle (2%). Yields range from 10 to 15 hectoliters per hectare depending on the vintage.

 

The presence of the Ciron River, a tributary of the Garonne, plays a crucial role in the process of grape overripening. In autumn, the development of Botrytis Cinerea is favored by the morning mists generated by the Ciron.

 

The harvest remains traditional with successive selections. Harvested by hand, only perfectly "roasted" grapes are picked. Depending on the year, 4 to 8 hand selections are necessary. The wines are aged for 18 months in oak barrels, of which 40 to 50% are new each year.

 

The wines of Château Rayne Vigneau are renowned for their sweetness and richness. These wines offer a rich and complex aromatic palette. They often feature exotic aromas such as pineapple, mango, and apricot, as well as citrus notes like orange and candied lemon.

 

   

What are the other wines of Château Rayne Vigneau?

 

The château's second wine is called "Madame de Rayne" in tribute to the Baroness de Rayne. It has been produced since 2000 with the same expertise as the château's grand vin, emphasizing freshness and finesse.

 

The château also produces a dry white wine under the Bordeaux Blanc Sec appellation, the "Sec de Rayne Vigneau", made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc.

 

The best vintages of Château Rayne Vigneau

 

The greatest vintages of the Château are Rayne Vigneau 1929, 1959, and 1961. We also recommend Château Rayne Vigneau 1947, 1957, or even Rayne Vigneau 1977.

  

Food and wine pairings

 

The wines of Château Rayne Vigneau pair perfectly with sweet and savory dishes and exotic cuisine such as lamb curry, foie gras with apples, or duck à l'orange. For cheeses, opt for strong varieties like Roquefort or Fourme d'Ambert. For desserts, fruit-based specialties are recommended, such as red fruit crumble, apricot tart, or pear sabayon.

 

Château's website

 

www.raynevigneau.fr

Read more