2005 Cote Rotie Les Rochains
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The 2005 Cote Rotie Les Rochains is a classic, backward effort that will require patience. Medium to full-bodied with notes of acacia flowers intermixed with cassis, tar, spicy oak, truffles, and licorice, it is a densely packed wine with impressive concentration and purity. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 15. These two brothers have come of age over the last decade. In the past, much of the crop was sold to negociants, but now all of it is estate bottled. The Bonnefonds farm just under 14 acres in Cote Rotie and 2.5 in Condrieu. Production is approximately 12,000-15,000 bottles of the Cote Rozier, 3,000-4,000 bottles of Les Rochains, and 2,000 cases of the regular cuvee. Everything is destemmed, and the wines are made with both pump-overs and punch-downs. The single vineyard wines see as much as 85-90% new French oak, and the classic Cote Roties see 25-30% new wood. There is no filtration. Importer: A Christopher Cannan Selection, various American importers including Michael Skurnik, Syosset, NY; tel. (516) 677-9300 and Diamond Wine Merchants, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 567-9897
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
Inky purple. Strikingly intense aromas of dark berry preserves, incense, Indian spices and fresh flowers are underscored by suave minerality and a subtle vanilla quality. Fat and sweet but focused, with deep blackberry and boysenberry flavors and a big jolt of baking spices on the close. This very rich, chewy wine boasts serious depth but also superb energy. The tannins here are extremely fine.
CS Quite similar to Stéphan's Coteaux du Tupin but a little less exotic and more intense acidity. Tight, rich, well balanced and masses of power coiled up. Firm very smooth tannins. (JH)
Inky color, almost opaque. Explosively floral on the nose, with a strong graphite accent to the red and dark berry, exotic spice and candied licorice aromas. This is really mineral-driven. Deeply concentrated and sweet, with expressive blackberry and bitter cherry flavors and fully absorbed tannins. Round, supple and expansive on the strikingly long finish.