JancisRobinson.com

• By Jancis Robinson, MW
  3/17/2009 (link)

  (Jean-François Garon, Les Triotes Côte Rôtie Red) Subscribe to see review text.

Garagiste

• By Jon Rimmerman
  2/2/2010 (link)

  (GARON Cote Rotie Les Triottes) Cote Rotie #6 Dear Friends, This is a major new discovery and prices are still in "undiscovered" territory. If you are seeking the best and brightest rising stars of Europe, the Garon brothers are going to make friends with the collector world in a hurry. Domaine Garon has always had excellent potential and they rose to the occasion several times during the last few decades but it wasn't until 2004 when the two young brothers (Kevin and Fabien Garon) took over their four-hectare family domaine that the world began to notice a significant player in the Cote Blonde. Like their compatriots (the often mentioned Dard et Ribo, Gonon, Souhaut et al), their goal was to change the Domaine from one that rarely broke stride with their brethren to one that would provide inspiration. With a goal of elegance, finesse and astute minerality (quietly ushering in a post-Guigal era that stresses less oak and less extraction), the Garon brothers are on to something significant and their ultra-pure expression will have lovers of tactile and sensual Cote Rotie saying "thank you". Speaking of Guigal, of his three La-La cuvees, only La Mouline hails from the Cote Blonde (La Landonne and La Turque are from the Cote Brune and they show the rougher, masculine side of that vineyard in spades). An interesting point to note is the Garon's amalgam of Cote Blonde material - it hails from sub-parcels in Goutay, Mollard, Lancement, Triotte, and Combard, just a stone's throw from where La Mouline is born. Another point to note is the name of the wine - to set themselves apart, they did not name it "Cote Blonde", instead "Les Triottes" which gives their own expression an identity that is unique (even though the material comes from all five of the sub-plots above). All of the technical data above is interesting but what matters to me is the wine itself and you can still taste the 2007 Les Triottes hovering around the nooks of your pallet for minutes after the last sip. Let me say this - if you are seeking outstanding minerality, tone and heavenly Northenr Rhone aromatics (with dense black fruit and a delightful note of soy), this wine is for you. It has excellent persistence and potential but remains feminine and graceful from the limestone/sandstone soils of the Cote Blonde - just what the Garon's intended. In sum, this wine is a beautiful and reflective breath of fresh air made in a traditional-meets-2010 style that will be immensely appealing after 6-10 years in the cellar. Only a few dozen cases for the entire US. EXTREMELY LIMITED and HIGHLY RECOMMENDED This parcel is directly from the winery cellar with perfect provenance: 2007 Domaine Garon Cote Rotie "Les Triottes" Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Rhone8327