Côte Rôtie, Northern Rhône

Gentaz-Dervieux

Côte Brune Cuvée Réservée Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1990

Okay…so I entered the night fully aware that we were going to be taking down some unicorns…but this?!  I wasn’t prepared for this. I walked into the room, greeted my fellow brothers-in-wine and began to set my contributions next to the other bottles in the line-up. I casually scanned from left to right in complete wonder at what was on display…and stopped halfway, as my eyes recognized a label from the recesses of my memory. A label that had been filed away under the category of “Academic” since there was very little likelihood that I would ever see a bottle, let alone have an opportunity to enjoy it. And yet, here I was, in a small town north of Lincoln, NE, staring in disbelief at a bottle of 1990 Gentaz-Dervieux. I turned to our host who, at this point, was smiling at me; like a childhood friend who had invited me over to play with his GI Joe Aircraft Carrier, the U.S.S. FLAGG. “F***ing Gentaz?!”

The nose? Magic. Brambles, granite, mushrooms, cumin, espresso, purple flowers, leather, smoke; so sanguine, so savory. Vinous. Rustic. Tremendous with Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. I took my time. Drink now through 2035+.
— 11 days ago

Ira, Eric and 9 others liked this
Jay Kline

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@Ira Schwartz I was sort of resigned to a position of anticipating I would never even see a bottle. I very special surprise.
Jay Kline

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@Severn Goodwin no doubt…very fortunate.
Jay Kline

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@Lyle Fass incredible…but I guess there was a time when few fully appreciated what these wines meant.

E. Guigal

Brune et Blonde de Guigal Côte-Rotie Syrah 2001

A quiet and restrained noise. Damson and black pepper. Some pretty floral notes of rose and violet. A little under. — 21 days ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Bob, Jay and 6 others liked this

Domaine Georges Vernay

Blonde du Seigneur Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2018

Jeremy Shanker
9.0

Steak au Poivre wine. Black pepper, sanguine, and olive deliciousness. — a month ago

Tom, Bob and 3 others liked this

Rene Rostaing

Côte Blonde Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2004

This was a real treat after the Gentaz-Dervieux since Rene Rostaing is Marius Gentaz’s son-in-law. While the vineyards that belonged to Marius are now famously part of the Rostaing domaine, that vineyard goes to Rene’s Côte Brune; this is his Côte Blonde and arguably his most famous bottling. This 2004 pours a cloudy ruby with brambles, purple flowers, blood, dust and leather. Slightly rustic which is what I want from Rostaing. I love the individuality and how it paired with the Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. Plenty of life left. Drink through 2034+. — 11 days ago

Ira, Eric and 9 others liked this

E. Guigal

Château d'Ampuis Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2003

A touch of butterscotch on the nose then a deep blue gnarly fruit with a bit of tang and black pepper. Savory and delicious on the palate z quite cool blooded which is ironic given the vintage. Sour cherry notes on the end. — 21 days ago

Paul WoollsAra Aslanian
with Paul and Ara
Bob, Jay and 5 others liked this

Domaine Jamet

Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2012

Another great btl of this vintage showing pure flavors of black cherry, red berry fruits with graphite, mineral, smoked meats, licorice, spice, olive, pepper & violets. — a month ago

Jeroen, Jan and 9 others liked this

E. Guigal

La Mouline Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1994

Believe it or not, this is my first La-La and what a way to do it with a 1994 no less! Flintstone vitamins, gym socks, pomegranate, purple flowers, minerals like crazy…and what seemed like an impenetrable wall of granite. Tons of baking spices. Modern? Yeah of course but my goodness the quality is indisputable and this worked really well with Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. The reality is, even at 30 years old, this is youthful. Drink now through, I dunno, 2044? — 11 days ago

Severn, Lyle and 7 others liked this

E. Guigal

La Turque Côte-Rôtie Syrah 1990

1990 vintage. Decanted and tasted after one hour. Light-medium body. Great color still. Smoke and earth in the nose. Cedar, spiciness and rusticity on a long finish. Still relevant and kicking. Can hold tight for another 6-7 years. Must be a revelation out of a larger format bottle currently...3.15.24. — 13 days ago

Shay, Jan and 10 others liked this

Rene Rostaing

La Landonne Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2016

David T
9.5

Amazing pair w/ my Braised Short Ribs. Savory meets savory fruits.

Photos of; Pierre, staff and Sofia & I in La Landonne Vineyard, the process of Short Ribs.

The one mineral you see in this vineyard with some prevalence that I’ve not seen in others is quartz.
— a month ago

Ira, Peter and 16 others liked this

Rene Rostaing

Ampodium Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2016

David T
9.4

Straight up my wheel house for Old World Syrah.

It is called Cote-Rotie or translation roasted slope for a reason.

The nose has beautifully, lightly floral fruits that are; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, black raspberries, poached strawberries and hues of blueberries. Some black pepper, steeped black tea, hues of roasted chestnuts, sandalwood, some dry tobacco, used leather, red cola, dark, rich earth, dark, red, blue withering florals framed in amazing violets.

The body is smooth as silk. The fruits are ripe & juicy; blackberries, dark cherries, plums for days, black raspberries, poached strawberries and hues of blueberries. Some black pepper, shades of lightly, grilled meats, steeped black tea, hues of roasted chestnuts, sandalwood, some dry tobacco, crushed rock powder, river stone, dry top soil, used leather, red cola, dark, rich earth, dark, red, blue withering florals framed in a. amazing field of violets. Rainfall acidity, soft structure & tension, well balanced and an elegant, beautiful, lush finish. Damn beautiful wine.

Sofia & I walked the La Landonne vineyard with Pierre and tasted in the cellar w/ Rene & Pierre.

Excellent with both Tri-tip’s…rubbed & marinated.
— 2 months ago

Paul, Juan and 18 others liked this
Shay A

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Still a wine on my list to try.