Gentaz-Dervieux
Côte Brune Cuvée Réservée Côte-Rôtie Syrah
Côte-Rôtie, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
A couple years ago, I encountered my first bottle of Gentaz (1990) and I expected, quite justly, that it could very well be my only opportunity. I savored every moment of that bottle along with my brothers in wine. And now, here I am today, with most of the same homies, staring into the glass of the ‘85 and from the first smell, I was entranced. My eyes rolled back into my skull and I nearly fell back from the table. I dare say, this might be even more magical.
Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1985 “Côte Brune” pours a deep, slightly dull garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with powerful notes of desiccated blackberries, prune, dried purple flowers, roasted meat, black olive brine, cumin, mushroom, ground coffee, Herbs de Provence, wet stones and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and sanguine. Out of this world. The kind of soul that James Brown would sing about having. Drink now, with some of your favorite people on earth, through 2045.
A couple years ago, I encountered my first bottle of Gentaz (1990) and I expected, quite justly, that it could very well be my only opportunity. I savored every moment of that bottle along with my brothers in wine. And now, here I am today, with most of the same homies, staring into the glass of the ‘85 and from the first smell, I was entranced. My eyes rolled back into my skull and I nearly fell back from the table. I dare say, this might be even more magical.
Opened about 90min prior to service; enjoyed over the course of a few hours. The 1985 “Côte Brune” pours a deep, slightly dull garnet/purple with a near opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is vinous with powerful notes of desiccated blackberries, prune, dried purple flowers, roasted meat, black olive brine, cumin, mushroom, ground coffee, Herbs de Provence, wet stones and rocky earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and sanguine. Out of this world. The kind of soul that James Brown would sing about having. Drink now, with some of your favorite people on earth, through 2045.
Structurally sound, fruit and elegance underneath, but brett marred purity.
Structurally sound, fruit and elegance underneath, but brett marred purity.
Mar 9th, 2025Okay…so I entered the night fully aware that we were going to be taking down some unicorns…but this?! I wasn’t prepared for this. I walked into the room, greeted my fellow brothers-in-wine and began to set my contributions next to the other bottles in the line-up. I casually scanned from left to right in complete wonder at what was on display…and stopped halfway, as my eyes recognized a label from the recesses of my memory. A label that had been filed away under the category of “Academic” since there was very little likelihood that I would ever see a bottle, let alone have an opportunity to enjoy it. And yet, here I was, in a small town north of Lincoln, NE, staring in disbelief at a bottle of 1990 Gentaz-Dervieux. I turned to our host who, at this point, was smiling at me; like a childhood friend who had invited me over to play with his GI Joe Aircraft Carrier, the U.S.S. FLAGG. “F***ing Gentaz?!”
The nose? Magic. Brambles, granite, mushrooms, cumin, espresso, purple flowers, leather, smoke; so sanguine, so savory. Vinous. Rustic. Tremendous with Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. I took my time. Drink now through 2035+.
Okay…so I entered the night fully aware that we were going to be taking down some unicorns…but this?! I wasn’t prepared for this. I walked into the room, greeted my fellow brothers-in-wine and began to set my contributions next to the other bottles in the line-up. I casually scanned from left to right in complete wonder at what was on display…and stopped halfway, as my eyes recognized a label from the recesses of my memory. A label that had been filed away under the category of “Academic” since there was very little likelihood that I would ever see a bottle, let alone have an opportunity to enjoy it. And yet, here I was, in a small town north of Lincoln, NE, staring in disbelief at a bottle of 1990 Gentaz-Dervieux. I turned to our host who, at this point, was smiling at me; like a childhood friend who had invited me over to play with his GI Joe Aircraft Carrier, the U.S.S. FLAGG. “F***ing Gentaz?!”
The nose? Magic. Brambles, granite, mushrooms, cumin, espresso, purple flowers, leather, smoke; so sanguine, so savory. Vinous. Rustic. Tremendous with Iberico pork cheek, mushroom ragu with lavender and thyme. I took my time. Drink now through 2035+.
More pronounced brettanomyces than previous bottle.
More pronounced brettanomyces than previous bottle.
Mar 5th, 2023Cellared since original release by wine benefactor. Lore has it Pacific Wine Company used to buy from G-D direct and bottle under their own label. Be on the lookout. Fantastic aromatics, a touch of Brett with some air, and gorgeous elegance, finesse.
Cellared since original release by wine benefactor. Lore has it Pacific Wine Company used to buy from G-D direct and bottle under their own label. Be on the lookout. Fantastic aromatics, a touch of Brett with some air, and gorgeous elegance, finesse.
Dec 15th, 2018
Excellent bottle I this legendary wine. Wow!
Excellent bottle I this legendary wine. Wow!
3 people found it helpfulJul 20th, 2014
SO LUCKY -- once in a lifetime gentaz vertical
SO LUCKY -- once in a lifetime gentaz vertical
2 people found it helpfulSep 12th, 2013
This wine is perfect.
This wine is perfect.
2 people found it helpfulSep 11th, 2013
Liquid history. Thanks @Rajat Parr ! 😍
Liquid history. Thanks @Rajat Parr ! 😍
1 person found it helpfulApr 21st, 2016
A sign of a great wine for me ... The aromatics are enough. The need to drink is not as compelling as the nose.
A sign of a great wine for me ... The aromatics are enough. The need to drink is not as compelling as the nose.
1 person found it helpfulJul 8th, 2014