February 26, 2024 - Much lighter and less expressive than my last bottles. Still good but may be I should have decanted it. 94-95
October 28, 2023 - In a good place right now. Aromatic nose with beef blood, bacon, smoke, wild stuff. Tannins polished, medium- bodied, elegant as the come in the Cote Blonde.
October 8, 2023 - Sunday Northern Rhône Survey (San Francisco): Ruby center with slight browning at the rim. Ripe sweet fruit and fennel aromas. Medium weight, lush, and fluid. Ripe fruit, toffee, and some light green tones with more air. Round tannins, bitter chocolate finish. Seamless, poised, and tremendous length. I thought this was glorious. Is it showing all of its cards now or will it age well? Time will tell, but I’m confident in saying that you can drink it with gusto over the near term.
April 30, 2023 - A tough one to like at first with the VA. Time eventually improved that but it still underwhelmed. Black fruit, leather, wet soil and mineral. Moderate acid and tannin.
August 26, 2022 - Très beau vin sur la finesse, long et savoureux.
August 23, 2022 - Very good with the wood somewhat integrated here. The fruit is more on the black/blue side and very complex. Hedonistic.
November 27, 2021 - Needs more time. Not an excellent bottle (I hope...). Big, deep black fruit nose, some black olives, hint of vanilla. Palate is okay but it's layered, not a composition, a whole.
One bottle left...
November 4, 2021 - Short note as catching up and drunk this a while ago - but this was stunningly good and drinking perfectly even now. Will develop of course but fresh and beautiful now and complex
July 3, 2021 - So intense while also elegant and light on its feet. This wine has impact from the get go, with an intense nose of charcoal, smoked meat, olive brine and cool berries. The palate has all that and more. Almost St. Joseph like in its fresh pepperiness, this has cool, rich berry flavor, violets, black olives, and smoked meat going on. I really nice treat to have something so powerful, yet fresh.
May 21, 2021 - My first Cote Rotie from Rostaing - shocked and amazed by the lightness and etherealness of this wine. Slow oxed 5 hours, decanted 2-3 hours. Surely needed it. Pure white pepper with a hint of something tropical behind it - a very interesting wine but not on par with a Chave or La Chappelle (on this day at least). Won't open another for many years.