Their top of the line - Aquillon - is very tasty, but not up to Rayas. There is a purity in Rayas that comes through clearly and is different from all the others - and I love Saxum. The Moncayo Veraton, which used to be in the $15 range, but is not much more, was an outstanding value Grenache.
And you believe the label??? I’ve run alcohols on many CdPs. Some claim 13.5 and are 16+%. I can guarantee you that your Rayas wines are north of 15%. It’s the nature of Grenache, despite what the label says.
Rayas is one of the trophy wines that actually can live up to the hype. I’ve never had a Grenache that comes close. If you can find the ‘08, it’s often not stratospherically priced and is absolutely beautiful and pretty open.
Just to provide a different view: not Rayas for my taste. Hasn’t wowed me texturally when I’ve tried it, and flavour profile is ok. Alvaro Palacios l’Ermita from the late 90s / early 00s have been my favourite. Ridiculous pricing now, of course, makes Rayas look cheap ! Given I dislike Grenache generally, probably not a particularly useful opinion:)
To me the top 5 grenache ever are Usseglio Not For You 2007, Clos Saint Jean Sanctus Sanctorum 2016, Clos Erasmus 20013, Pégau 2003 Capo, SQN 2005, Rayas 2005… All different styles.
Rayas … from far … Rayas red 2005 last year : 20/20
Rayas rouge 2006 : 19/20 (drank in Maranones vineyard with Fernando Garcia and his team).
Rayas Red 2007 last week : 18,5/20
…
130 euros if you are lucky enough to buy it directly (try not to miss another Emmanuel Reynaud’s exceptional Grenache : Châteauneuf-du-Pape Pignan).
Henri Bonneau cuvée spéciale 1998 : 19/20 Clos des Papes 2016 (an exceptional vintage) : 18,5/20 (in 2019) Beaucastel 2016 great too (18/20)
I recently tasted great wines at the domains : Terroir al Limit Les Manyes 2017 : 19/20 (a wine probably quite fragile) Alvaro Palacios L’Ermita 2019 : 19/20 (not pure grenache)
In Sierra de Gredos, ComandoG produces great grenache too …
Las Umbrias, El Reventon, Rumbo al Norte.
Worth trying (but not as exceptional as the wines described above) :
Afrique du Sud : Swartland – Sadie Family « Soldaat » 2014
Australie Rusden « Christine’s vineyard » Barossa Valley Grenache 1998