In NZ market this is the entry level red for the Rayas stable. Showing youthful with a bit of extra ripeness from the 2019 vintage. More in the boysenberry range rather than strawberry but stil has that hard to define Rayas magic. Power without weight, medium to light bodied, very fine tannins, long intense finish. Will be even better in another 5 years
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This looks from the label to be their straight Cotes de Rhone. Under the name of Domaine des Tours, they also make a VdP red and I have seen a merlot. Although des Tours is, since the death of Jacques Reynaud, made by the same person who makes Rayas, Emmanuel Reynaud, and the wines of des Tours are great wines, I really would not confuse them with Rayas or any of the other wines in the Rayas stable in terms of taste. In terms of quality is another matter.
last’s year’s offering from Martine’s (US):
CDR 19
Vaucluse Merlot-Syrah 10 - same $ as the CDRs
Vaucluse Rouge 20 (Grenache etc) - 2/3 $ of the CDRs
no whites - though most years have one of the several that they make
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I buy direct from the domaine. The prices in the US are absurd. They always have a CdR white and a VdP white.
To me, the Domaine des Tours wines have been rather mundane and uninteresting. Pretty much what you’d expect for 10-15€, at which they sell from the domaine. The Château des Tours might not be that much more expensive from the domaine, but I think they show a considerable leap in quality compared to the Domaine des Tours wines.
Agreed. Well, not just in the US - the secondary market prices everywhere are simply nuts. I can sort of understand why somebody would pay quite a bit for Château des Tours wines, but $100 for a bottle of Domaine des Tours? Absolutely insane.
I am not a big fan of the Domaine des Tours (VdP) red. I do find the VdP white to be an interesting wine.
I have enjoyed quite a few bottles of the red VDP. Think it can be a pretty decent wine at the correct price.
Good read from Vinfolio this week that clarifies a lot of the confusion around these other wines: Vinfolio: Guide to Rayas, Fonsalette and Des Tours – the Reynaud wines
Ch. des Tours
Purchased by Louis Reynaud in the late 1930s, Ch. des Tours is Emmanuel Reynaud’s home estate – having taken over running the property from his father Bertrand in 1989. As it was entrusted to Bertrand from the beginning, and never managed by Jacques Reynaud, the estate has always stood apart from Ch. Rayas and Ch. de Fonsalette – however all three have fallen under Emmanuel since 1997. Benoît – Emmanuel’s son, who studied oenology in Switzerland – has recently taken the lead at Ch. des Tours, working closely with his father.
The property gets its name from the towers or tours that frame the château building. Located in Vacqueyras, not far from Orange and northeast of Châteauneuf, it covers 40 hectares, with grains and olives as well as grapes. As it was long run separately, the property has its own winery. Although the Reynaud philosophy runs through all three estates, the wines at Ch. des Tours are stylistically distinctive, offering more structure, muscle and intensity versus the more subtle, high-toned, perfumed style of Rayas and Fonsalette. The winemaking is largely similar to at Rayas and Fonsalette, with fermentation is concrete and maturation in old oak. Although the red grapes are mostly whole-bunch fermented, this is the only property where small portions are destemmed. The range is more complex at Ch. des Tours with a selection of wines bottled under Ch. des Tours, some under Domaine des Tours and a rosé made under the Parisy label. There are five wines under the Ch. des Tours label:
- Vacqueyras: A blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, this is a structured and powerful wine made exclusively from the oldest vines on the estate.
- CĂ´tes du RhĂ´ne Rouge: A blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 15% Cinsault, this is a supple, juicy red packed with fruit and spice.
- Côtes du Rhône Rouge Grande Réserve: Only made in specific vintages, this is effectively the Vacqueyras declassified when there isn’t sufficient colour – made in 2002, 2014 and 2015.
- Côtes du Rhône Blanc: Made in very limited volumes, this white is 100% Grenache Blanc – a floral, textural wine that is worth seeking out.
- Côtes du Rhône Blanc Grande Réserve: Only made in certain vintages, this is not a declassified bottling (like its red sibling), but a special bottling of the property’s best Clairette and Grenache Blanc. The 50% Grenache Blanc, 50% Clairette wine was produced in 2003, 2014 and 2015.
The Domaine des Tours label is all sourced from Ch. des Tours however is a slightly separate project, generally offering more accessible wines, almost all labelled as IGP or Vin de Pays. There are four wines under the label:
- Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge: This is a deeply expressive field blend of Grenache, Counoise, Syrah, Cinsault, Merlot and a host of other varieties.
- Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Merlot: This 100% Merlot comes from the richest, clay soils on the property, producing amore opulent and exuberant wine.
- Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Merlot-Syrah: A blend of Merlot and Syrah, which shifts according to the vintage, is a concentrated wine that combines the generosity of Merlot with the spice of Syrah.
- Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Clairette: This 100% Clairette is pure and fresh, driven by minerality.
I’ve blown through several bottles this year, it’s rather tasty and open! Silly US price, however.
For some reason the Domaine des Tours reds are not offered here in NZ. which makes the straight Ch. des Tours the entry level red for us.
Here is the entire range of reds as offered in NZ last month
I would not say I am confusing them with Rayas; more like a getting a strong sense of the family resemblance that I get from the wines made by Emmanuel Reynaud.
It always amazes me that whilst Ch des Tours is not exactly close to Ch Rayas and the wines are made with a diferent cepage and yet there are some distinct similarities in the wines (for me anyway)
I completely agree, and I am sure you can search WB and find me stating there is a clear DNA throughout the line-up. I stand by that.
Some years ago I did a tasting with a few friends where we drank through most of the red line-up. CDR to Rayas (including Pialade). For me there was an amazing similarity in the wines throughout.
Well, taste is like that. I can see the commonality in wine making style and the common effect of not destemming. But the Vacqueyras, much less the CdR, which is only 65% Grenache after all, do not taste to me like the CdPs–nor should they. If I were searching for Rayas substitutes (and I would begin by admitting that there are none), I would look to other CdPs made from 90% or more Grenache from sandy vineyards in the north of the appellation. To my taste, the nearest is the middle cuvee from Chapelle St. Theodoric, but, as I said, tastes are what they are.
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If a spot opens up I’m in! 
Met a guy picking in Jura who also is on the list. Ah those prices…
Do they offer Tours of the Chateau and Domaine when you go there?
No, nor do they offer tastings. They allow you to buy, but only whatever they offer.
I see what you did there.
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To my shame, I didn’t. Regardless, they don’t.
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Don’t forget the Parisy! Not sure if they make it every year but it’s fascinating and delicious.
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