Tasting Notes

92
Vinous Stephen Tanzer - 01 Jan 99
Saturated deep ruby. Explosive aromas of sappy, superripe raspberry, tar, spices and Mediterranean herbs. Very sweet and lush in the mouth, with an impressively deep core of spice. Extremely expressive wine, and a very strong debut. But not quite as multifaceted as the three crus, La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne. When you blend six parcels, noted Philippe Guigal matter-of-factly, you can't have the same complexity as you can with one-a statement that lurked at the edge of my consciousness through the remainder of my stay in the Rhone Valley.
Drinking Date:
Cote-Rotie Vineyard Fine Wine

Cote Rotie

Côte-Rôtie, a distinguished Northern Rhône appellation, is famed for its elegant, complex Syrah-based red wines. The name means "Roasted Slope," reflecting its sun-drenched, steep hillsides. These wines often blend Syrah with a small amount of Viognier, adding floral notes to rich dark fruit flavours like blackberries and plums, with peppery, smoky undertones. Top producers include E. Guigal, Domaine Jamet, and Domaine Côte-Rôtie, all celebrated for crafting some of the region's most revered wines.