I had high expectations but unfortunately this Rotie Northern Blend fell a bit short. Medium to full body, with nice structure. However, the wine failed on flavor and depth, and did not live up to my expectation for a decent Syrah (a bit too tannic and bland).
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Dark purple with ruby highlights. Spice, blueberry, and cedar nose. Medium bodied, blackberries, pepper, blueberry jam, grainy tannins, smoke, sage, and a long dry finish. Well made and tasty.
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Beaucoup de matiere, extraction un peu intense. Rappelle peu les arômes du Rhône, et beaucoup plus une syrah australienne. Quand même excellent sur 3 jours, meilleure une fois qu’il a perdu un peu de gras de bébé.
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P&P. Nice funky syrah with ample sweetness and good fruit character. Blackberry, iodine, hints of fig and vanilla. Still holding strong...Drink now - 2028.
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We had friends over for pork stew, which was great comfort food on a cold night. This was up a point from our last bottle. Nose had a bit more of the Syrah stink that I get from the Rhone, but with plenty of New World sweetness. Seems to be evolving in a positive direction. Again, great QPR, we and our guests loved it.
Definitely California, but a nicely structured Syrah. I didn’t get as much Viognier as some other reviewers. QPR is wonderful, I have had northern Rhône’s at three times the price that I wish were this good.
Typical dark syrah color. Aromatics are quite nice - lots of olive and herb to go with a meaty note and an apricot or two! Rich voluptuous mouthfeel with blackberry for days. Good complexity. The viogner is prominent for sure. Very good, high alcohol, but balanced. An old world style, with little to no oak influence. Very enjoyable.
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Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend Vertical Tasting (Seattle, Washington): Tasted with friends. While not as integrated and elegant as the 2012 (our favorite), this was delicious. Blackberry, blueberry, vanilla, spice, black pepper. Medium acid, medium+ tannins, 14.5% ABV, medium+ body, medium+ finish.
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Finally coming into it’s own. Wonderful balance between fruit and tertiary flavors. Unfortunately, this is my last bottle. No rush if you have some left, give it a few years (my bottle wasn’t cellared the best due to my divorce).
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Hard to say here, as there was not an obvious bottling or storage flaw, yet the wine was awful. Hot, overripe, completely out of balance. Based on other comments, perhaps just a bad bottle. Either that or y’all are crazy. ;)
Trying to fill a cellar while living in PA is frustrating. You see the same stock at every store and can never find vintage wine. But very, very rarely there are sales of incredible wine, like this, at insane prices. $20/btl !!! 92s from RP, WS, and WE for a reason. Blackberry bramble and baking spice notes with a wonderful long finish. Load up on this. I got 3 and am going back for the case.
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Bu en succ en même temps que leur Southern Blend...les 2 sont similaires soit moderne et assez facile, le boisé est omniprésent. Ici on a 5 % de viognier, le reste complété par la syrah. Tannique et asséchant, peu d'acidité, un peu surfait et maquillé. Next.
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This wine is in a fantastic spot. Left open for 3 hours before drinking. Rich dark and red fruits, white pepper. Briny olive and cured meat. Lush velvety texture. Beautiful wine.
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Bu en Succ, bouteille ouverte par la conseillière depuis quelques heures. Dieu merci que cette bouteille ne m'a rien couté, à plus de 60$ pour du gros jus de bois moderne. Il fait plus Rhone Sud que Nord même si c'est à majorité de Syrah avec un peu de Viognier. En bouche, souple et guidoune, gros fruit extrait avec de la vanille et du bois...assez long avec un peu de chauffe et un assèchement assez prononcé. Plaira au amateurs de gros vins modernes et gommants.
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Decanted for an hour before drinking. Notes of sour cherry, smoke, pepper, meat, olive tree, and saline on the nose with hints of flowers. Saline, meat, and olives propionate on the palate. Well balanced with a longish finish.
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Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend 2013 SAQ N° 12474730 63$ mais obtenu à -20% en ligne en juillet. 95% syrah, 5% viognier, Walla walla valley dans Washington.
Ça sent bien la syrah avec ce petit côté de viande vieillie. Il se distingue surtout par un fruité bien prononcé. L'élevage est palpable avec un petit côté vanillé qui trahi son origine nouveau-monde. Ça se boit facilement, mais ça n'a pas ce côté méditatif des grands syrah du rhône méridional. La seconde bouteille commandée sera bue d'ici 5 ans. **1/2
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Purple core with a garnet reflection. Nose is reticent showcasing aromas of meat, smoke, and some kirsch. Palate is dense with a broad full fleshed profile of blackberry jam and vanilla, and a decent balance of acid leading to a bitter finish. Oak is prominent but the juice can support it. Tannin is pretty well integrated and the complexity is there. Tasty but quite full.
Probably best to make sure this is served at cellar temp. Needless to say this needs a few years or a long decant.
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Second Sunday Group: 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (R&D's): Aromas of red fruit and pepper with noticeable viognier in the form of a sweet florally note. Red fruit and peppery spice on the palate; balanced; medium+ finish.
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Not the equal of the same vintage 'Southern Blend', being more fruit forward and modernly styled. A solid wine, enjoyable for what it is, but varietal characteristics and terroir elements are all but absent.
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Gorgeous, complex young nose of raspberries, plums, baking spices and violets. Big bodied and quite sweet on the palate. Elegant and obviously well made, but needs time to harmonize the sugar.
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Always solid, the Rôtie's Northern Blend is composed of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, adding subtle sweetness to a nose is fairly brimming over with ripe Rainier cherries, Italian plums, and baking spices. The fruit is sourced from the Rocks AVA, just south of Walla Walla Valley, a site that tends to contribute earthy undertones and, even a bit of funk, all of which can be found in this bottle, though not as pronounced as some other examples from this unique and very singular appellation. Bravo! Sample
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Nose: The nose has a savory side to it with bitter chocolate, black cherries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, licorice, and some purple fruits.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. There is a definite richness to the fruit, but, it's well dialed in with black cherries, black raspberries, bitter chocolate, licorice, and purple fruits.
Overall: This was essentially ready to go after about an hour of air. There was a definite intensity to the nose, but ths was never a rich and extracted Syrah.
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Hmmm...I just don't get the meaty Syrah thing that Washington has going on these days. It's not just rotie. This was balanced, smooth, well crafted. Long finish. Has a prominent meaty, black olive flavor that isn't my game. Some people will love this though.
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Opened and kept in a decanter while we consumed. This definitely needs some air to open up. It was quite closed at first. But with air it develops great Rocks-type aromas. Marine, meaty, and funky, with some background olive and dark red fruit. Very smooth on the palate, medium long finish. Unlike the previous taster, I did not notice any heat. Very enjoyable with air now, but I think this will benefit from at least another year or so.
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Terrific mouth feel, but a short finish and quite hot. Yet only 14.5% alc., odd. Consistent on day 2. A lone caveat would be that I opened it the same day I got the shipment, hoping this is not fully representative.
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6/16/2023 - callmeacab22 Likes this wine: 88 Points
I had high expectations but unfortunately this Rotie Northern Blend fell a bit short. Medium to full body, with nice structure. However, the wine failed on flavor and depth, and did not live up to my expectation for a decent Syrah (a bit too tannic and bland).
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5/26/2023 - hckschr40 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Medium garnet. Stewed currants, coffee, balsamic and chocolate on the nose, showing some oxidation.
Syrupy palate with stewed red and black fruits. The structure is fairly flat now, with a ruby port aspect. Cork is clean so this bottle is drink now.
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1/31/2023 - merryberry Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark purple with ruby highlights. Spice, blueberry, and cedar nose. Medium bodied, blackberries, pepper, blueberry jam, grainy tannins, smoke, sage, and a long dry finish. Well made and tasty.
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12/27/2022 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 92 Points
Blackberry brambles, earth. In a good spot.
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11/1/2022 - Vince_chip Likes this wine: 91 Points
Beaucoup de matiere, extraction un peu intense. Rappelle peu les arômes du Rhône, et beaucoup plus une syrah australienne. Quand même excellent sur 3 jours, meilleure une fois qu’il a perdu un peu de gras de bébé.
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2/8/2022 - RPerro Likes this wine: 92 Points
P&P. Nice funky syrah with ample sweetness and good fruit character. Blackberry, iodine, hints of fig and vanilla. Still holding strong...Drink now - 2028.
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1/9/2022 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 92 Points
We had friends over for pork stew, which was great comfort food on a cold night. This was up a point from our last bottle. Nose had a bit more of the Syrah stink that I get from the Rhone, but with plenty of New World sweetness. Seems to be evolving in a positive direction. Again, great QPR, we and our guests loved it.
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7/4/2021 - Hansvo Likes this wine: 90 Points
Solid, drinking well. Don't think I would mistake this for a Cote Rotie (or even a St. Joseph) but good syrah character. Might still improve slightly.
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12/30/2020 - ChrisinCowiche wrote: 90 Points
Solid wine, fully integrated, not likely to improve. Nice depth of body, blackberry, earth, a hint of oak. Well done,
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11/28/2020 - Tony Poli Likes this wine: 91 Points
Definitely California, but a nicely structured Syrah. I didn’t get as much Viognier as some other reviewers. QPR is wonderful, I have had northern Rhône’s at three times the price that I wish were this good.
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4/19/2020 - WY Leonidas wrote: 90 Points
Typical dark syrah color. Aromatics are quite nice - lots of olive and herb to go with a meaty note and an apricot or two! Rich voluptuous mouthfeel with blackberry for days. Good complexity. The viogner is prominent for sure. Very good, high alcohol, but balanced. An old world style, with little to no oak influence. Very enjoyable.
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4/10/2020 - LaiJien Likes this wine: 90 Points
Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend Vertical Tasting (Seattle, Washington): Tasted with friends. While not as integrated and elegant as the 2012 (our favorite), this was delicious. Blackberry, blueberry, vanilla, spice, black pepper. Medium acid, medium+ tannins, 14.5% ABV, medium+ body, medium+ finish.
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2/25/2020 - DrX Likes this wine: 92 Points
Finally coming into it’s own. Wonderful balance between fruit and tertiary flavors. Unfortunately, this is my last bottle. No rush if you have some left, give it a few years (my bottle wasn’t cellared the best due to my divorce).
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9/13/2019 - Ecoenophile wrote: 90 Points
Great QPR - a full and richly flavored syrah. Spicy and fresh. Nice pick-up from the 5% Viognier. Full bodied.
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1/30/2019 - lifeattable Does not like this wine:
Hard to say here, as there was not an obvious bottling or storage flaw, yet the wine was awful. Hot, overripe, completely out of balance. Based on other comments, perhaps just a bad bottle. Either that or y’all are crazy. ;)
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12/3/2018 - Gruffalius wrote: 90 Points
Great qpr at $20. Has some good depth and length. A touch of spice.
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11/1/2018 - esw423 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Trying to fill a cellar while living in PA is frustrating. You see the same stock at every store and can never find vintage wine. But very, very rarely there are sales of incredible wine, like this, at insane prices. $20/btl !!! 92s from RP, WS, and WE for a reason. Blackberry bramble and baking spice notes with a wonderful long finish. Load up on this. I got 3 and am going back for the case.
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6/14/2018 - maxima wrote: 86 Points
Bu en succ en même temps que leur Southern Blend...les 2 sont similaires
soit moderne et assez facile, le boisé est omniprésent.
Ici on a 5 % de viognier, le reste complété par la syrah.
Tannique et asséchant, peu d'acidité, un peu surfait et maquillé. Next.
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4/15/2018 - Jamesgold Likes this wine: 96 Points
This wine is in a fantastic spot. Left open for 3 hours before drinking. Rich dark and red fruits, white pepper. Briny olive and cured meat. Lush velvety texture. Beautiful wine.
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12/27/2017 - maxima wrote: 87 Points
Bu en Succ, bouteille ouverte par la conseillière depuis quelques heures.
Dieu merci que cette bouteille ne m'a rien couté, à plus de 60$ pour du gros jus de bois moderne.
Il fait plus Rhone Sud que Nord même si c'est à majorité de Syrah avec un peu de Viognier.
En bouche, souple et guidoune, gros fruit extrait avec de la vanille et du bois...assez long avec un peu de chauffe et un assèchement assez prononcé.
Plaira au amateurs de gros vins modernes et gommants.
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10/22/2017 - knorthrip Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for an hour before drinking. Notes of sour cherry, smoke, pepper, meat, olive tree, and saline on the nose with hints of flowers. Saline, meat, and olives propionate on the palate. Well balanced with a longish finish.
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9/16/2017 - fitchbuck Likes this wine: 91 Points
Informally, no formal notes.
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9/9/2017 - Avicenne Likes this wine: 88 Points
Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend 2013
SAQ N° 12474730 63$ mais obtenu à -20% en ligne en juillet.
95% syrah, 5% viognier, Walla walla valley dans Washington.
Ça sent bien la syrah avec ce petit côté de viande vieillie. Il se distingue surtout par un fruité bien prononcé.
L'élevage est palpable avec un petit côté vanillé qui trahi son origine nouveau-monde.
Ça se boit facilement, mais ça n'a pas ce côté méditatif des grands syrah du rhône méridional.
La seconde bouteille commandée sera bue d'ici 5 ans.
**1/2
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6/3/2017 - ex-sommelier Likes this wine:
Purple core with a garnet reflection. Nose is reticent showcasing aromas of meat, smoke, and some kirsch. Palate is dense with a broad full fleshed profile of blackberry jam and vanilla, and a decent balance of acid leading to a bitter finish. Oak is prominent but the juice can support it. Tannin is pretty well integrated and the complexity is there. Tasty but quite full.
Probably best to make sure this is served at cellar temp. Needless to say this needs a few years or a long decant.
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4/9/2017 - AllRed wrote: 91 Points
Second Sunday Group: 2009 Châteauneuf-du-Pape (R&D's): Aromas of red fruit and pepper with noticeable viognier in the form of a sweet florally note. Red fruit and peppery spice on the palate; balanced; medium+ finish.
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8/13/2016 - TwoSmoochies wrote: 86 Points
Still too young
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8/1/2016 - Motz wrote: 90 Points
Not the equal of the same vintage 'Southern Blend', being more fruit forward and modernly styled. A solid wine, enjoyable for what it is, but varietal characteristics and terroir elements are all but absent.
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7/6/2016 - Neecies Likes this wine: 91 Points
Gorgeous, complex young nose of raspberries, plums, baking spices and violets. Big bodied and quite sweet on the palate. Elegant and obviously well made, but needs time to harmonize the sugar.
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4/17/2016 - Christine Havens Likes this wine: 90 Points
Always solid, the Rôtie's Northern Blend is composed of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, adding subtle sweetness to a nose is fairly brimming over with ripe Rainier cherries, Italian plums, and baking spices. The fruit is sourced from the Rocks AVA, just south of Walla Walla Valley, a site that tends to contribute earthy undertones and, even a bit of funk, all of which can be found in this bottle, though not as pronounced as some other examples from this unique and very singular appellation. Bravo! Sample
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12/6/2015 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Nose: The nose has a savory side to it with bitter chocolate, black cherries, black raspberries, crushed rocks, licorice, and some purple fruits.
Taste: Full bodied with medium acidity and medium+ tannins. There is a definite richness to the fruit, but, it's well dialed in with black cherries, black raspberries, bitter chocolate, licorice, and purple fruits.
Overall: This was essentially ready to go after about an hour of air. There was a definite intensity to the nose, but ths was never a rich and extracted Syrah.
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10/12/2015 - ckellermd wrote: 88 Points
Hmmm...I just don't get the meaty Syrah thing that Washington has going on these days. It's not just rotie. This was balanced, smooth, well crafted. Long finish. Has a prominent meaty, black olive flavor that isn't my game. Some people will love this though.
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8/21/2015 - lockestep Likes this wine: 92 Points
Rotie Tasting, W Squared, 082115 (Rotie Cellars, Walla Walla): Good stuff. Deep coffee and chocolate notes, a little saddle leather. Rounded finish, beautiful balance. This has great potential.
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7/27/2015 - topher2411 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Opened and kept in a decanter while we consumed. This definitely needs some air to open up. It was quite closed at first. But with air it develops great Rocks-type aromas. Marine, meaty, and funky, with some background olive and dark red fruit. Very smooth on the palate, medium long finish. Unlike the previous taster, I did not notice any heat. Very enjoyable with air now, but I think this will benefit from at least another year or so.
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4/10/2015 - samiamx_1999 wrote: 87 Points
Terrific mouth feel, but a short finish and quite hot. Yet only 14.5% alc., odd. Consistent on day 2. A lone caveat would be that I opened it the same day I got the shipment, hoping this is not fully representative.
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