2018 Cote Rotie Les Rochains
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Tasting notes
Glass-staining violet. An expansive, complex bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented dark berries, licorice, incense, exotic spices and smoky bacon. Broad and alluringly sweet on the palate, offering intense cassis, cherry-vanilla, fruitcake and salty olive flavors that slowly firm up through the back half. Closes on a resonating cherry note, with steadily building tannins and lingering spice and mineral notes.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
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Even deeper hued, the black/blue 2018 Côte Rôtie Les Rochins offers a heavenly bouquet of black raspberries, blueberries, smoked meat, chocolate, liquid violets, and crushed stone. With full-bodied richness, a seamless, ultra-fine texture, gorgeous tannins, and a big, mineral-drenched finish, it brings a more masculine, powerful style while staying light on its feet. This is another magical Côte Rôtie from the Garon family that should be snatched up by readers.
Glass-staining ruby. Assertively perfumed aromas of mineral-accented blackberry, boysenberry, incense, smoky bacon. Juicy, penetrating and alluringly sweet, offering concentrated dark berry and cherry liqueur, violet candy, vanilla and licorice flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate that emerges on the back half. Finishes broad and extremely long, with building tannins and repeating floral and mineral notes. (made with 25% whole clusters and raised in one-third new oak)