With lamb leftovers, served in Riedel syrah glasses, not decanted - pours a lovely clear deep garnet, just the slightest touch of purple, not obviously viscous, no legs to speak of and little sediment. Medium expressive nose quite correct for Cote Rotie, and not a smidge of 2003 heat or roasted elements. The label says 12.5% and I believe it. This bottle showed good maturity, not the least bit over the hill unless all you want it blockbuster fruit. I was not expecting to like this very much, and I found it quite tasty. I might have wished for more depth and concentration, but really can't complain at all about what was in the bottle. A nice surprise.
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Double Blind Côte-Rôtie Tasting (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Double blind in Côte-Rôtie tasting. Ripe and rich black cherry and plum, well supported by bacon, tapenade, black pepper and clove notes. Wonderfully balanced, especially for this vintage. Very good now.
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Cote Rotie Double Blind (Chicago): Forward, large-scale nose of rich meat- and spice-filled aromas. Intense and sauvage. Dense and powerful fruit with a nice combination of precision and breadth. Long with nice complexity.
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mature or past prime but still pretty good after about an hour or 2 in the decanter. Initial smell putrid but that passed and initially thin and tired. Rounded out with time and air and fruit was pretty well balanced and paired nicely with grilled lamb rib chops. Did not necessarly get typical Cote Rotie flavors and if I had any more bottles, I would get on it soon
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La Tablee: Grand Tasting (26 Bridge Street, Brooklyn): Age just really helps the wines. Reminds me a bit of blueberry pie. Some gravel still. Very balanced and tasty. Still on the younger side. Has life left. Enjoyed.
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I did not expect much - questionable provenance and storage. Very nice nose of smoked and roasted meats. Incense like aromas with nice fruit flavour on taste with a long finish. Amazing wine - unexpected, but appreciated. Very refined.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Northern Rhone (Tilia, Mpls): Small pour. Glad to try, but quite disappointed. Wow, totally green and herbal in a hot vintage. Certainly not what I look for. Would have absolutely though this was Carmenere blind.
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1st of 12. Classic pepper and black berry fruit on nose. Some signs of age but not mature. Thin on palate, the same spiciness but more earthy and stoney. Short. 3/5
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Quite a strange drinking experience. It started with a little stinkiness and smokey bacon flavours, then a dusty flavour started developing high almost flattened the fruit making it quite dull, the wine livened up and the fruit came back somewhat with a white sauce and roasted vegetable pasta dish but still retained a dusty edge. This never really showed its class, on this showing I would say it is past its best, but is possibly bottle variation
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Mature nose with slme burgundisn lightness to it. Still some herbs and animal notes giving it away. Sweet attack (finally after many years) with light body and almost no tannins. Some wet iron (acidity) showing through pn the nose bellow the fruit. Fresh finish with medium lenght. Nice now and probably wont improve much further.
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PNP - little thin, but showed characteristic nose and finish for Rhone. Nice wine. Finish short. Think I agree with comments below that hot year has tempered the wine and it will not improve materially with more age. I plan to consume remainig 2 bottles this year.
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Better than last time. Very marure and clean nose of olives, thyme and some fur. Medium body with light tannins. Not lean snymore. Day two it has a bit of wet iron on the nose.
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Tasted this again last night, and it is still tight and a bit green. I'm not sure this will be better with time, as it could be the adversities of a hot year showing through, i.e. that the heat stress on the vines stopped the maturing process. It has a strange taste profile.
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Nice, but straightforward. Classic dark fruit notes with a bit of spice, clean dark fruit with just enough acidity for support it. Not much of a finish.
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Similar to my last note, this is a bit hard and green on the palate. The nose however is wonderful with freshly killed hare, some thyme and forest.Medium long finish.
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Probably not typical for Cote Rotie, but popped and poured with a winter dinner of veal, sage and mushroom stew and wonderfully round and full, as you might expect from the vintage...i got no nail varnish or anything like that...really a nice drink and certainly ready to go...no idea how well it ages from here
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Tasted 2003, 2004 and 2005 in parallel. The 2004 had the most typical northern Rhone nose with thyme, pepper, some ham and bacon and beginning animal tertiary aromas. The 2003 was surprisingly tight with some green paprika and nail varnish, the least satisfying nose of the three. The 2005 had the most downscale nose with restrained aromas of more primary fruit. On the palate the 2003 was the most full bodied but not necessarily the sweetest, and with the slightest green tinge which is surprising thinking of the warm weather in 2003. The 2004 had the best balance between fruit and acidity and is the most Burgundian of the three. The 2005 clearly had most tannins and is more Bordeaux'ish in style and olfactory sensation. All in all I prefer the 2004 right now, but the 2005 might be the best wine in 3-4 years. None of the wines are shut down, but then again, Rostaings rarely do.
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This has taken on more typical Nothern Rhone notes of blood, bacon fat, hung raw meat, etc. Not heavy fruit as many others 2003 which is nice. Less lingering acidity than I remember. Still good though.
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This has matured nicely and is a pleaser at the moment. Burgundian nose, without the typical bacon fat and raw meat associated with northern Rhone. Very sweet and mature on the palate with the very refreshing, almost bubbly, lingering type acidity, perfectly integrated in the fruit, which is a hallmark for some of the best Rhone producers. Nobody guessed 2003 for this wine, which has nothing of the cloying warm fruit typical for the vintage, but then again Rostaing, is not like the rest of the bunch.
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Conrad’s: Tight, structured, funky musky nose, tho! (some said reduction, to me--corked-blew off later); lean t’s, w/grt a’s; conc. flakes of dried blueberry. Clear change from New World.
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Somewhat simple black cherry and rustic, earthy nose. Medium-bodied palate without the super-ripe vintage character. Spicy black fruit and tannic on the finish. Young, of course, but not showing any real character or anything interesting at this point. Could pass for a simple regional rhone blend at this point.
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Mid purple, this was initially slightly thin when opened, so double decanted for three hours. An attractive, slightly sauvage nose with a natural licorice quality (something I find in many rostaings) and wild black fruits. The palate became more and more velvety with air, and by the end of the bottle, this had opened extremely nicely, was balanced with minerality and acidity, but also black fruits licorice and glycerin and a nice length. A very attractive, refreshing 03 and drinking very nicely now. Gives me high hopes for the rest of the Rostaing 03 line-up.
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11/23/2022 - NYC_Maenad Likes this wine:
With lamb leftovers, served in Riedel syrah glasses, not decanted - pours a lovely clear deep garnet, just the slightest touch of purple, not obviously viscous, no legs to speak of and little sediment. Medium expressive nose quite correct for Cote Rotie, and not a smidge of 2003 heat or roasted elements. The label says 12.5% and I believe it. This bottle showed good maturity, not the least bit over the hill unless all you want it blockbuster fruit. I was not expecting to like this very much, and I found it quite tasty. I might have wished for more depth and concentration, but really can't complain at all about what was in the bottle. A nice surprise.
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4/22/2021 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Double Blind Côte-Rôtie Tasting (House of Nanda - Chicago IL): Double blind in Côte-Rôtie tasting. Ripe and rich black cherry and plum, well supported by bacon, tapenade, black pepper and clove notes. Wonderfully balanced, especially for this vintage. Very good now.
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4/22/2021 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Cote Rotie Double Blind (Chicago): Forward, large-scale nose of rich meat- and spice-filled aromas. Intense and sauvage. Dense and powerful fruit with a nice combination of precision and breadth. Long with nice complexity.
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12/29/2020 - Mr T wrote:
mature or past prime but still pretty good after about an hour or 2 in the decanter. Initial smell putrid but that passed and initially thin and tired. Rounded out with time and air and fruit was pretty well balanced and paired nicely with grilled lamb rib chops. Did not necessarly get typical Cote Rotie flavors and if I had any more bottles, I would get on it soon
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7/27/2020 - wsammons Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pretty good wine - definitely about to turn south
Wouldn't buy more bottles but would drink more if I had them
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6/30/2020 - hargy Likes this wine: 90 Points
certainly mature and probably in decline, but better bottles than the last
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3/22/2020 - hargy Likes this wine: 89 Points
this is thin and almost sweet with the "stuffing" is almost gone - drink up
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1/14/2020 - Cooky474 wrote: 89 Points
Birthday dinner (Wild Tavern Restaurant): Came across as young, fresh and a bit simple. Lovely wine, but it was up against some genuine classics.
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2/5/2019 - AV2012 wrote:
Cote Rotie 1973 - 2009: Juicy, flushy, dark berries, sweet beauty. Fullbodied and warm with a finish of chokeberries.
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2/5/2019 - Livonietisr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark red. Still young, with long life. Opened with wet towel, that evaporated fast. Balanced and tasty.
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2/2/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
La Tablee: Grand Tasting (26 Bridge Street, Brooklyn): Age just really helps the wines. Reminds me a bit of blueberry pie. Some gravel still. Very balanced and tasty. Still on the younger side. Has life left. Enjoyed.
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1/29/2019 - hargy Likes this wine: 90 Points
a bit of "green' on opening but this did fade quite quickly - no blockbuster but quite delicious nonetheless
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10/7/2018 - hargy Likes this wine: 90 Points
perhaps not the most complex of wines and not particularly long but quite delicious - some residual tannins but drink soon nonetheless
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7/22/2018 - mike1234 Likes this wine: 86 Points
Somewhat transparent cherry color, on nose reminiscent of bell pepper, medium body, bit low in acidity, fresh fruit on the palate and the finish
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1/2/2018 - ashegedyn Likes this wine:
I did not expect much - questionable provenance and storage. Very nice nose of smoked and roasted meats. Incense like aromas with nice fruit flavour on taste with a long finish. Amazing wine - unexpected, but appreciated. Very refined.
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10/9/2016 - rocknroller wrote: 82 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Northern Rhone (Tilia, Mpls): Small pour. Glad to try, but quite disappointed. Wow, totally green and herbal in a hot vintage. Certainly not what I look for. Would have absolutely though this was Carmenere blind.
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3/23/2016 - nstow wrote: 82 Points
1st of 12. Classic pepper and black berry fruit on nose. Some signs of age but not mature. Thin on palate, the same spiciness but more earthy and stoney. Short. 3/5
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2/28/2015 - kingkanu wrote:
Quite a strange drinking experience. It started with a little stinkiness and smokey bacon flavours, then a dusty flavour started developing high almost flattened the fruit making it quite dull, the wine livened up and the fruit came back somewhat with a white sauce and roasted vegetable pasta dish but still retained a dusty edge. This never really showed its class, on this showing I would say it is past its best, but is possibly bottle variation
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9/13/2014 - UTPK wrote:
Mature nose with slme burgundisn lightness to it. Still some herbs and animal notes giving it away. Sweet attack (finally after many years) with light body and almost no tannins. Some wet iron (acidity) showing through pn the nose bellow the fruit. Fresh finish with medium lenght. Nice now and probably wont improve much further.
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3/21/2014 - mchrist wrote: 88 Points
PNP - little thin, but showed characteristic nose and finish for Rhone. Nice wine. Finish short. Think I agree with comments below that hot year has tempered the wine and it will not improve materially with more age. I plan to consume remainig 2 bottles this year.
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7/6/2013 - UTPK wrote:
Better than last time. Very marure and clean nose of olives, thyme and some fur. Medium body with light tannins. Not lean snymore. Day two it has a bit of wet iron on the nose.
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4/18/2013 - fdusonchet Likes this wine: 93 Points
Vin masculin mais possèdent une belle finesse. Note de musque d'épice de minérale bouche fine et longue
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1/9/2013 - UTPK wrote:
Tasted this again last night, and it is still tight and a bit green. I'm not sure this will be better with time, as it could be the adversities of a hot year showing through, i.e. that the heat stress on the vines stopped the maturing process. It has a strange taste profile.
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11/3/2012 - fdusonchet wrote: 94 Points
Vin incroyable note de caramel de moca de iode magnifique iode cerise noir...
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9/13/2012 - dekay Does not like this wine: 89 Points
Nice, but straightforward. Classic dark fruit notes with a bit of spice, clean dark fruit with just enough acidity for support it. Not much of a finish.
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3/2/2012 - UTPK wrote:
Similar to my last note, this is a bit hard and green on the palate. The nose however is wonderful with freshly killed hare, some thyme and forest.Medium long finish.
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1/16/2012 - Mr T wrote:
Probably not typical for Cote Rotie, but popped and poured with a winter dinner of veal, sage and mushroom stew and wonderfully round and full, as you might expect from the vintage...i got no nail varnish or anything like that...really a nice drink and certainly ready to go...no idea how well it ages from here
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5/27/2011 - UTPK wrote:
Tasted 2003, 2004 and 2005 in parallel. The 2004 had the most typical northern Rhone nose with thyme, pepper, some ham and bacon and beginning animal tertiary aromas. The 2003 was surprisingly tight with some green paprika and nail varnish, the least satisfying nose of the three. The 2005 had the most downscale nose with restrained aromas of more primary fruit. On the palate the 2003 was the most full bodied but not necessarily the sweetest, and with the slightest green tinge which is surprising thinking of the warm weather in 2003. The 2004 had the best balance between
fruit and acidity and is the most Burgundian of the three. The 2005 clearly had most tannins and is more Bordeaux'ish in style and olfactory sensation. All in all I prefer the 2004 right now, but the 2005 might be the best wine in 3-4 years. None of the wines are shut down, but then again, Rostaings rarely do.
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3/29/2011 - UTPK wrote:
This has taken on more typical Nothern Rhone notes of blood, bacon fat, hung raw meat, etc. Not heavy fruit as many others 2003 which is nice. Less lingering acidity than I remember. Still good though.
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8/19/2009 - UTPK wrote: 93 Points
This has matured nicely and is a pleaser at the moment. Burgundian nose, without the typical bacon fat and raw meat associated with northern Rhone. Very sweet and mature on the palate with the very refreshing, almost bubbly, lingering type acidity, perfectly integrated in the fruit, which is a hallmark for some of the best Rhone producers. Nobody guessed 2003 for this wine, which has nothing of the cloying warm fruit typical for the vintage, but then again Rostaing, is not like the rest of the bunch.
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2/18/2009 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Conrad’s: Tight, structured, funky musky nose, tho! (some said reduction, to me--corked-blew off later); lean t’s, w/grt a’s; conc. flakes of dried blueberry. Clear change from New World.
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2/15/2009 - WetRock wrote:
EWG Does Syrahs Blind From Around The World (Conrad Greens Abode): Reduction and green stem notes greet. Tight lean palate again showing rubbery reduction and veggie stem notes. Crying for sleep and clearly from France.
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12/30/2006 - psmith wrote:
Somewhat simple black cherry and rustic, earthy nose. Medium-bodied palate without the super-ripe vintage character. Spicy black fruit and tannic on the finish. Young, of course, but not showing any real character or anything interesting at this point. Could pass for a simple regional rhone blend at this point.
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6/11/2006 - CharlesM wrote: 92 Points
Mid purple, this was initially slightly thin when opened, so double decanted for three hours. An attractive, slightly sauvage nose with a natural licorice quality (something I find in many rostaings) and wild black fruits. The palate became more and more velvety with air, and by the end of the bottle, this had opened extremely nicely, was balanced with minerality and acidity, but also black fruits licorice and glycerin and a nice length. A very attractive, refreshing 03 and drinking very nicely now. Gives me high hopes for the rest of the Rostaing 03 line-up.
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