2021 René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie "La Landonne", Rhone Valley, France
Opaque ruby. Displays an array of intensely perfumed, mineral-accented black and blue fruit, floral, botanical herb and exotic spice aromas, along with suggestions of licorice, smoked meat and olive. Shows serious depth as well as unlikely energy, offering palate-staining kirsch, cassis, bitter chocolate, olive paste and violet pastille flavors that slowly turn sweet and become more energetic through the back half. Youthfully gripping tannins add grip to the smoky, mineral- and spice-driven finish, which emphatically repeats the licorice and blue fruit notes.
ABOUT THIS WINE
3 parcels of vines 20-70+ years in age. With a 45-degree slope, this vineyard is on one of the steepest of the Côte Brune. Soil is schist and dark, iron-rich granite. Grapes are hand harvested. Traditional vinification, including wild yeast fermentation. Aged in a mix of 225 and 500 liter barrels. (about 7% new).
ABOUT THIS PRODUCER
René Rostaing founded this estate in 1971 and absorbed top sites, plus invaluable wisdom, from earlier giants like uncle, Marius Gentaz, and father-in-law, Albert Dervieux. The domaine today commands perhaps the finest selection of Côte Rôtie vineyards in private hands; with prime holdings in La Landonne, Côte Blonde, La Viaillière, Côte Brune and more. Today’s wines are models of classic balance and perfume; crafted with deep respect for traditional techniques like long macerations, inclusion of stems, and limited usage of new wood.