2017 Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Cote Blonde

"Even better than last year, the recently bottled 2017 Cote Rotie La Cote Blonde was singing when I tasted it back in July. Floral and berry notes accent mocha-tinged aromas in this medium to full-bodied wine. It's silky, long and intense, with a couple of decades of life ahead of it. It's simply difficult to describe the waves of savory complexity this wine now shows, coupled with a succulent texture and tremendous length." Drink 2021 - 2040

"The winemaking at Domaine Rostaing is now in the hands of René's son Pierre, and it follows the same format for all the Côte-Rôties: four weeks in tank, 18 months in mostly old oak, natural yeasts, and as many stems as possible. A certain spice and perfume is contained within a dark, brooding mass, which has really fragrant, lifted, sweet berry fruit. There's considerable tangy berry acidity and blackberry-skin tannins, and it shows a good sense of refinement despite the remarkably powerful sinew. A very long, well balanced finish. Give it time." Drink 2026 - 2039

"Deep, brilliant ruby color. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes ripe black/blue fruits, peony, exotic spices and smoky minerals. Smooth and focused on the palate, offering deeply concentrated, yet lively black raspberry, boysenberry floral pastille, spicecake flavors and building spiciness. Finishes smooth, sappy and impressively long, with chewy tannins lending shape and grip to lingering dark berry and floral tastes."