2020 CÔTE RÔTIE LA LANDONNE RENÉ ROSTAING - 6x75cl

Tasting Notes

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  Goedhuis, November 2021

  This is Côte Rôtie’s most famous lieu dit, and Rostaing’s cuvée always delivers the density, precision, and depth one expects from legendary terroir. The 2020 shows a dark brooding nose with a tapestry of complex aromas hovering under the surface: dark fruited, floral, savoury, smoky and animal notes entangle with exotic spice, liquorice and freshly cracked walnuts. While the palate is tightly coiled at the moment, like a wound-up spring, there is plenty to come. Delightful freshness and the slick, glossy tannins caress the palate which moves into a long, flowing finish.

• 

  Jancis Robinson, December 2021,
  Score: 17.5

  Liquorice, peaty smoke, dark fruits and lavender. Powerful and rich palate with pronounced firm and muscular dense tannins and good fruit too. Layered and clean but very young. Needs lots of time. Drink 2025-2036.

• 

  Matt Walls, October 2021,
  Score: 96

  Classically dark, brooding fruits, this has length and depth, with good balance even though the acidity is quite low. With its intense and muscular tannins, this is for the long term. Four weeks in tank, 18 months in oak (limited newoak), with natural yeasts and as many stems as possible. Drink 2030-2045.

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Producer

René Rostaing

René Rostaing retired after the 2014 vintage, leaving the estate in the capable hands of his son Pierre. René had spent 40 years building a reputation as the patriarch of the Northern Rhône, and Pierre’s handling of the 2015s and 2016s showed a seamless handover has taken place. For the 2017 vintage the house recipe remains unchanged: old vines from the region’s greatest sites, a high proportion of whole bunch vinification, long macerations, and restrained use of new French oak. Pierre has continued his father’s inimitable style in Condrieu, fermenting the wine in stainless steel. The estate is known for its unique use of Rototanks for its red fermentation – closed horizontal tanks with internal plunging mechanisms. René started using these in 1985 and believes they give much gentler pigeage than what can be achieved by hand. The closed tanks also help protect the wines from oxidation. This enables long maceration times, and the resulting wines are typically deep in colour, full of flavour, and abundant in tannins.