2016 Cote Rotie Les Triotes
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Triotes offers a darker, smokier style with meaty notes of red and black fruits, crushed rocks, spice box, and violets. Medium-bodied, rounded, and nicely textured on the palate, it lacks the seamless texture of the other two wines here but is still one seriously impressive wine. This is another estate that’s slowly passing to the next generation, with sons Kevin and Fabien taking more of a lead role these days. Winemaking is largely traditional, with small amounts of destemming, a long maceration, roughly 18 months in 20-25% new oak (which is both shorter and less new oak than in the past), and bottling occurring with no fining or filtration. While both vintages reviewed here are incredibly strong, the 2017s are the finest wines I’ve tasted from the domaine.
Critic scores
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Medium-bodied, supple and easy to drink, the 2016 Cote Rotie Les Triotes is a charming, herb-laced wine for drinking over the next 6-7 years. Hints of bay leaf and rosemary add interest to the ripe raspberry fruit, lingering elegantly on the finish.
(40% new oak) Opaque ruby. Smoky, mineral-accented cherry and blueberry scents are complicated by hints of vanilla, Indian spices and licorice. Supple and broad on the palate, offering pliant blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. A sexy floral pastille note emerges on the clinging finish, which shows excellent clarity and gentle, slow-building tannins.
(30% whole clusters and 25% new oak) Lurid violet. Mineral-accented, intense aromas of dark berry preserves, cured meat, olive paste and pungent flowers, along with hints of cracked pepper and allspice. Sappy, alluringly sweet and focused on the palate, offering juicy blueberry, cherry liqueur and mocha flavors underscored by a smoky mineral element that adds back-end lift. Velvety tannins build steadily on the finish, which hangs on with impressive tenacity and resonating spiciness.