Château Rayas has always projected an image of secrecy and seclusion. The vines are planted on the most unusual terroir in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, where the soil is extremely sandy, isolated in a forest and there is a more northerly exposure. Grenache is harvested late and aged in concrete to produce a hedonistic, long-ageing wine that is arguably the most sought-after in the south of France. The estate is run by Emmanuel Reynaud, who inherited it from his uncle Jacques Reynaud, a legendary figure in Châteauneuf-du-Pape history. Since 1997, Emmanuel continues the tradition of making wines with minimal intervention, using organic farming, whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and old oak foudres.