2018 Cote Rotie Blonde du Seigneur
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Tasting notes
Opaque garnet color. Deeply pitched aromas of ripe red and blue fruits are complemented by floral, cracked pepper and smoky bacon accents. Offers sweet, black raspberry, cherry liqueur, mulberry and exotic spice flavors that smoothly combine depth and finesse. Shows impressive energy and finishes on a subtle tannic note, with sharp definition and strong, mineral-driven persistence.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Includes about 5% Viognier. Spice and floral sweetness. Really gentle. A caress in a wine glass. Good nerve though. (JR)
Less aromatic and nuanced but more powerful than the 2019 version, the 2018 Cote Rotie Blonde du Seigneur is full-bodied, supple and rich, with ample black cherry and blackberry fruit, a velvety mouthfeel and a long, mouthwatering finish. It's still a delicious mouthful of Cote Rotie that should drink well for more than a decade.
35-year-old vines. Aged in barrel for 18 months (25% new oak). 5% Viognier adds a floral note to the Syrah. The nose is light and fresh and the wine is already enjoyable, with the lightest of tannic imprints – like the softest chamois leather. Some inkiness of fruit but overall this wine is about pleasure. (JR)
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.