2020 Cote Rotie Domaine des Pierrelles

Leading off the reds, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Les Pierrelles is a medium to full-bodied effort revealing a great ruby/purple color, notes of ripe red and black fruits, chocolate, and flowery incense, ripe tannins, and a layered, rich, satisfying texture. Brought up in 15% demi-muids, with a portion in concrete, it's going to evolve for 10-15 years.

Opaque ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh cherry and dark berries, sandalwood, olive and smoky bacon, along with a building mineral overtone. Sweet, seamless and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated boysenberry, cherry-cola and floral pastille flavors, with licorice and vanilla nuances. Plays richness off finesse with a smooth hand and finishes impressively long and juicy, with supple tannins coming in late. This 1.5 hectare vineyard, which is owned by Jaboulet, is located in the Côte Blonde's southern sector, in Tupin-et-Semons.

Very refined nose of blue and black berries with some bacon fat, spice and candied orange. A tightly structured Cote-Rotie, this has been built to last. Some may find it a bit challenging on release, but we love the generous, fine-grained tannins that build impressively at the imposing and firm finish. Limited production. From biodynamically grown grapes.