2003 Cote Rotie
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Gorgeous aromas of flowers, bacon fat, and overripe blackberry and cassis fruit soar from the glass of the 2003 Cote Rotie. Fashioned from low yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, the wine is spicy and ripe with surprisingly good natural acidity as well as full-bodied, powerful flavors. Drink it over the next 12-14 years. Proprietor Louis Barruol is one of the two finest producers of Gigondas (his wines rival those of Yves Gras’ Santa Duc), and also has a burgeoning negociant operation dedicated to making tasty wines. Readers should note that the estate wines are bottled under the Chateau Saint-Cosme label, and the negociant wines, made from purchased wines or grapes, are simply called Saint-Cosme. A Patrick Lesec Selection, various American importers, including Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; (561) 998-0039; Classic Wines, Boston, MA; tel. (617) 469-5799; Fine Vines LLC, Maywood, IL; tel. (708) 343-5901; Associated Wine Distributors, St. Helena, CA; tel. (707) 963-8048; and Vintage ‘59 Imports, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966-9218
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Bright ruby. Spicy aromas of cassis, blackberry, violet and candied rose. Dense and wonderfully fresh, with intense red and dark fruit flavors and notes of tarragon, black pepper and floral candy. Powerful but light in weight (at about 13% alcohol) and displaying excellent balance and precision. According to Barruol, 80% of the fruit was from the Cote Brune, and the average vine yield was just 18 hectoliters per hectare. "My model is Jamet," he commented.
Gorgeous aromas of flowers, bacon fat, and overripe blackberry and cassis fruit soar from the glass of the 2003 Cote Rotie. Fashioned from low yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, the wine is spicy and ripe with surprisingly good natural acidity as well as full-bodied, powerful flavors. Drink it over the next 12-14 years. Feb 2006, www.robertparker.com