Description
A cuvée first created in 2009 that I was unable to offer last year, this is their entry level Côte Rôtie, from 40-50 year old vines in the looser decomposed blonde gneiss/granite soils at the foot of the hill, just behind their winery. My impression of the 2017: As wonderful as the entry level syrah is, this is a self-evident step up in class and complexity, born from soils of a different and more elementally important race. It too offers head spinning intensity-meets-elegance, in a very open knit welcoming style, which is exactly why they isolated these parcels for this cuvée. The same house touch of purity and silken precision, but with greater breadth and mineral/savory complexity. Again, I don’t very often ask for a max allocation immediately upon tasting wines, but I leaped at the opportunity here. Buy this. Again, buy this. A little star * awarded here.
This is just the third vintage for this wine from a project the Garons have been pursuing on the opposite side of the Rhône river, planted on steep terraces outside of Seyssuel. It is only getting better and better with each passing vintage, it seems…..
“Powerful, mineral-driven dark berry, cherry pit and floral aromas show excellent clarity and take on subtle cola and licorice notes with air. Concentrated but lively as well, offering intense blackberry, cassis and violet pastille flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Smoothly blends richness and delicacy and finishes impressively long and precise, with even tannins and a resonating mineral note.” 92-94 Josh Raynolds for the 2019, NOT THE 2020 OFFERED HERE
