| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Rhône > Northern Rhône > Côte Rotie |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Tasted from bottle, the 2012 Côte Rôtie is a rock star that's hard to resist now, even though it won't hit maturity for another decade. Olive, pepper, underbrush and sweet cassis-like aromas and flavors all flow from this medium to full-bodied, concentrated and textured 2012. Showing both the gamy, wild and perfumed style of Côte Rôtie, yet also fantastic purity, it has the approachable, rounded feel on the vintage and can be consumed anytime over the coming 15+ years.
This has fine, spicy crushed-stone aromas with plenty of bright fragrances, such as various florals and dark chocolate. The wine is in a good place - nice and open with tannins that run even and supple. Really smooth and fresh red-plum and cherry fruits sit alongside blue fruits with fine tannins. The wine is so silky, velvety and complete. Definitive Cote Rotie that should be left alone until after 2018 where it should have a long window of 15+ years of great drinking.
Tasted in components, followed by a hypothetical blend: #1, from Lancement: Burgundy-like scents of fresh red berries, candied flowers and Asian spices, with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy and precise, with intense raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a strong note of spicecake #2, from Bonnivier: exotic, floral-tinged raspberry liqueur and cherry-cola scents show more power than the Lancement. Juicy, pliant and expansive, offering sweet red and dark berry flavors and a touch of star anise. Rich and pure, finishing with excellent back-end power and cut. #3, from Le Plomb: deep dark berries and licorice on the nose and palate; the most structured of these components, with serious finishing thrust and chewy tannins. #4, from Bonnivier, Leyat, Cote Baudin, Tartaras and Moutonne: black and blue fruit aromas, with cracked pepper and mineral accents gaining strength in the glass. Plush and expansive, with sweet boysenberry and cassis flavors and a touch of spicecake. #5, from Chavaroche, Cote Rozier and Cote Blonde: the most floral of these barrels, offering intense potpourri and red fruit liqueur aromas and flavors and a touch of candied violet. Tangy and penetrating on the finish, with the floral note strongly repeating. The potential (""very potential,"" according to Jamet) blend is highly floral, with forward berry and cherry character and a sexy violet pastille quality underscored by a smoky nuance. Spicy and focused on the finish, with dusty tannins making a late appearance. Highly promising and, at this stage, looking quite precocious.
100% Syrah, 24 months in oak, 20% new. Schist. Notably dark crimson. Intense but with the softness of Côte Rôtie scent overlaying it all. One of the most typically Côte Rôtie wines but with an intensity that is presumably down to the vintage. Very neat and appetising. Very fine, fresh and natural.
In full flow on both the nose and the palate, the 2012 is gorgeous right now. Silky blue fruit, smoked bacon and fresh black pepper – you couldn’t be anywhere else. Whole-bunch spice mingles perfectly with cool but ripe fruit and fine, persistent tannins. Seductive and juicy but refined and spicy at once. Very long finish. Excellent. (TP)
Drink 2021 – 2037
