90 Points
Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Bright medium ruby. Cassis, licorice and crushed rock on the nose, lifted by a violet topnote. Suave and varietally accurate, with good inner-mouth energy and lift to the dark berry and fresh herb flavors. Finishes with serious tannins and lingering sweet berry fruit. Raymond is now under the Boisset Family Estates umbrella following its purchase by Jean-Charles Boisset in August of 2009. Boisset, who also has a major presence in Burgundy, told me he looks for refined wines--"almost in a pinot style." Philippe Melka is in charge of winemaking here.