2016 Cote Rotie
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge saw a touch of the blend vinified in barrels (30% stems). Its ruby hue is followed by a classic Côte Rôtie that has lots of framboise, spring flowers, exotic spice, and some bacon fat. Medium-bodied, elegant, and lively on the palate, it's beautifully made and well worth following over the coming 10-15 years. Both 2017 and 2018 were scorchers for the Northern Rhône, which can be difficult for Condrieu, yet Christine Vernay has done a brilliant job in both vintages. These wines show plenty of richness and depth yet hold onto a terrific sense of purity and freshness.
Critic scores
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Bright violet. Vibrant, intensely perfumed black and blue fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of exotic spices, potpourri and smoky minerals. Seamless and precise on the palate, showing intense mineral lift and thrust to the appealingly sweet blueberry, violet pastille, salty olive and spicecake flavors, which deepen on the back half. The mineral note gains strength with air and carries emphatically through a vibrant, focused finish that features discreet tannins and lingering florality.
A single parcel of Côte Blonde, this has very assertive oak influence for now with a swathe of cedar and blueberries, as well as white pepper and cloves. The palate has sleek, fine and upright tannins that carry a fresh, lithe and long red-plum and cherry finish. Power meets elegance here. Try from 2023.
Wonderful oak spice with violet, plum, pepper, black cherry and a touch of garrigue. Pure pleasure, with a long, vanilla-scented finish. (RH)
About the producer
A legendary name, Domaine Georges Vernay crafts some of the finest whites in the world, having championed Condrieu when it was on the brink of extinction. The estate is best known for its single-site Coteau de Vernon Condrieu and is now in the hands of the third and fourth generation of the family.