| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Rhône > Northern Rhône > Côte Rotie |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A lovely nose, in a very elegant style, it's not dominated by new oak. Fine, red-fruited aromas with a touch of juniper, and a good sense of precision. Weightier than expected on the palate. It's delicate, but has good presence and fullness. Good acidity and a spicy finish. Fresh, well balanced, will age well. Good now, but wait for further complexity. The family has 1.4ha in this lieu-dit, partly planted in 1943, partly in the mid-1970s. First vintage was 2005, but just 900 bottles; 2006 was the first to be sold commercially. Gneiss soils; stems only included since the 2017 vintage. Natural yeasts, submerged cap fermentation, 40% new oak.
The 2020 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge is terrific, offering ample black raspberry and darker berry fruits as well as spring flowers and peppery spice nuances. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is medium-bodied and has a supple, seamless texture, impressive tannins, and a great finish. It's unquestionably an outstanding wine, and I'd be happy to drink a bottle any time over the coming 10-15 years.
