Les Journaries Côte-Rôtie Syrah

Great classically styled cote rotie. Still pretty closed at first, with a hint of barnyard, game and grilled meat on the nose, with background fruit. Then the palate is tart, with sour plums, red and black fruit, minty herbs, excellent length and minerality. After a day this starts to display a seductive, blueberry pie aroma and the palate has become so elegant. A real zinger! So alive, rustic, and not too lean or funky. A few more years for he tannins to settle and this will be even better.

This changed personality about 6 times over 6 hours... all interesting people. And ended with the best. Started well balanced, turned slightly sour, then a bit bretty, finally came together into a dark berry olive earthy suave character. Recommend with patience.

Levet is always one of my favorites. unfortunately these wines are getting harder and harder to find.

Black pepper, pastille, “Australian licorice”, black currant, black cherry, dried thyme/sage. It’s showing more fruit than I remember (this vintage? The point in its development?), but the fruit is pretty and lifted and not overripe. Of course, this wine is still showing the dirt under its fingernails—just enough barnyard filth to make it a proper syrah. Ripe, silky tannins. So much finesse.

Cote Rotie was the perfect red to pair with everyone’s entrees: duck, pork chop, wagyu, roast chix.

Very tight and funky on opening, this really needed an hour + to get going. Dark fruits, blood, granite, fine tannin, classic N Rhône 😋