2000 Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie

[TheEngineer]

Slowly starting to extend my wine education into the Rhone where I have not had much. Before climbing on more expensive Heritage, I'm going to give Cote Rotie and Croze Hermitage more face time!

I opened up this Cote Rotie expecting a regular syrah and boy was I wrong! This is nothing like the Syrah/Shirahs that I know.

The wine needs a bit of time in your mouth, then then WHAM...the flavors pile in.

You taste earth, wood, a bit of creaminess in the texture, then the leather and the pepper comes in with a bit of what I've now been told is a meaty taste. And just when you think you can breath, the berries come in the lighten the load! Wow....five seconds of a wonderful ride.

It has a good persistence. This wine is also a bit mellow. Tannins and acid were in good check. Well balanced I would say.

I'm loving it!

(12% alcohol).