3/01. Bought at auction, Feb-99 for $65.
The 1991 vintage for Cote Rotie appears to be getting better and better as years go by.
I have had this wine some two years ago and liked it very much. Tonight we opened it for Friday night quiet dinner at home.
The wine accompanied some game pate we recently brought from Spain, chestnuts soup, steak and chips.
COLOR: Pretty dark violet red. Thin but visible clearing around the rim.
NOSE: Well developed deep nose of spices and black-fruit. Not overly powerful but complex and very enticing.
TASTE: Smooth, evolved and multi-flavored. Silky ripe fruit, with only a touch of sweetness to it. Good winyness, soft tannins and nice acidity. The terroir of pure Cote Rotie is very apparent. Extremely tasty and elegant if not huge in complexity.
LENGTH: Medium-long and very pleasant aftertaste.
TEXTURE & BALANCE: Medium-bodied wine with plenty of style and character. Superbly balanced and completely ready now.
OVERALL: Very Fine. This is not a Guigal single vineyard (it costs less than 1/4), but a marvelous and complete example of a top-level affordable Cote Rotie.

MARK: 18/20.

BUY MORE? Yes.

Reach Me? yak@yakshaya.com

Copyright 1996-2003.
Jacob "Yak" Shaya.