2022 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places

Powerful aromas of smoked black fruits, graphite, and crushed stone emerge from the 2022 Côte Rôtie Les Grandes Places, which comes from very old vines and a great terroir in the northern part of the appellation, situated just above Viallière. This beast of a wine offers tons of rocky minerality, full-bodied richness, and a powerful, textured mouthfeel. Serious stuff and incredibly structured, it will reward patience and cruise for 15+ years in cold cellars. Drink 2030-2045. ?Based in Verenay, Clusel-Roch farms approximately 5.5 hectares in Côte Rôtie, with vineyards concentrated in the northern part of the appellation. Their holdings include parcels in Les Grandes Places, La Viallière, Le Champon, Le Plomb, and Montmain. The Côte Rôtie Les Schistes cuvée accounts for roughly 80% of the estate's production and is sourced primarily from Viallière, with contributions from Le Champon, Le Plomb, and Verenay. The Les Grandes Places parcel, planted in 1935 by Baptiste Clusel, is the estate's oldest vineyard and is used exclusively for their single-vineyard bottling of the same name. Made entirely from Serine, an old clone of Syrah, it is aged for approximately two years in a mix of new and used barrels. The winemaking here is uncompromisingly traditional, with fermentation in concrete and stainless steel, partial destemming, and élevage mostly in used oak. These are beautiful, classic wines.