Grape

97% Syrah, 3% Viognier

Its Origins

Legal academic, property dealer and vigneron, René Rostaing crafts some of the finest Côte Rôties on the market today. He has owned 2 hectares in the Côte Blonde and La Landone since the 1970s but fortune has blessed him through his inheritance of four hectares of superbly sited vineyards from his father in law Albert Dervieux and another 1.4 hectares of particularly old vines from his uncle Marius Gentaz. He now has 7.4 hectares which in Côte Rôtie terms is a significant holding. Rostaing is firmly in the modernist camp of Côte Rôtie producers, destemming the majority of his fruit and being one of the first producers to ferment using vinomatics (horizontal automatic vinifiers). However he dislikes the overt taste of new oak and uses a maximum of 15% in the maturation process. All the wines are bottled unfiltered.

What The Critics Say

98/100 Parker's Wine Advocate, Joe Czerwinski

"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

97/100 Decanter, Matt Walls

"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

94-96/100 Vinous, Josh Raynolds

"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."