2015 Cote Rotie Le Gallet Blanc

Made from 100% Syrah aged in 20% new barrels, the 2015 Côte Rôtie Le Gallet Blanc is a larger production cuvée that offers less oak and minerality, yet terrific notes of black fruits, forest floor, olives and pepper. Clean, classically styled, fresh and focused, it's another terrific wine from Villard.

Vegetal and mushroom style nose. Black cherry, beetroot, quite firm tannin and some dark chocolate. Love the unusual vegetal character here – flirts with decay, but it works. (RH)

95% Syrah, 5% Viognier. Tank sample. Blackish purple. Luscious fruit right across the palate. Very polished and glossy-textured. Serious stuff with some complexity already. Like fermented, sugar-free treacle toffee. (JR)