2020 COTE ROTIE LA VIALLIÈRE CLUSEL ROCH - 6x75cl

Tasting Notes

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  Goedhuis, November 2021

  This schist parcel in Côte Brune is particularly respected amongst Côte Rôtie locals. Its mid-slope position and high proportion of gravelly stones aid drainage and produce wines of great finesse as well as notable substance. This 2020 has a fresh and inviting nose peppered with mineral, floral, smoky and sweet spice complexities. The palate is wonderfully sleek with beautifully refined and pliable tannins that sit comfortably undeath the velvety dark and red fruit, wild thyme and lavender. There is a lingering, sumptuous and delightfully fresh finish. Drink 2024-2036.

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  John Livingstone-Learmonth, October 2021

  Dark red; a gentle blackberry aroma leads the nose, has a youthful openness, appeal, a bonny sweep to it. The palate is well juiced on the attack, flows with artful ease, pitter patter in the fruit, good, clear length with a nice accumulation of fine powder tannin. This takes its grace from the coteau and gives a true Viallière. It’s very refined, holds very fine juice, is STGT wine, Burgundian finesse on the agenda. From 2026. 2048-50.

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Producer

Domaine Clusel-Roch

Over the past few vintages Guillaume Clusel has made his mark on his parents’ estate, which is nestled below the steep slopes of the Côte Brune. The style here has always been understated yet complex, where Burgundy-like finesse is combined with Syrah’s natural muscle. The domaine has some very old parcels of Syrah vines, and has been organically certified since 2002. The delicate handling in the vineyard and cellar results in wines with lower alcohol than many of their neighbours, and means they produce hugely pure, distinctive wines that avoid any over-extraction. Guillaume never employs a cold soak prior to fermentation and uses a high proportion of whole bunch fruit. As a result, the wines are often paler in colour than their neighbours. This is certainly the case in 2017. From 2016 onwards the estate no longer produces their young vine cuvée, ‘La Petite Feuille’, as the vines have reached sufficient maturity to be included in the main Côte Rôtie blend, ‘Les Schistes’ (formerly known as ‘Classique’. Keep up!). Rhône expert John Livingstone-Learmonth describes Les Grandes Places as ‘a formidable wine of challenging complexity and well worth the outlay.’