2013 Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde Domaine Rostaing

C'est le Vrai Cote-rotie ! Der står ¨odeur de violette¨ på etiketten, og det er spot on. Luftig pågående og sært selophævende aroma med hvid peber, lilje og bergamotte, utrolig friskhed og elegance og dvælende let rustik eftersmag

Brilliant ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh raspberry and boysenberry, potpourri, floral oils and smoky minerals. Lively, palate-staining red and dark berry and floral pastille flavors are complicated by powerful spice and mineral notes that expand with air. Closes on a gently tannic note, showing outstanding clarity and excellent mineral-driven persistence and leaving sweet dark berry notes behind.

Gorgeous white pepper and savory notes leap out, quickly followed by a solid core of bitter cherry, red currant and damson plum fruit. The finish is racy and tightly coiled, revealing a strong and persistent iron accent. Riveting acidity underscores this cellarworthy version. Best from 2018 through 2028.-J.M.

I found the 2013 Cote Rotie Cote Blonde reductive and hard to read from barrel, and it still shows some reductive aromas from bottle. Olive, truffle, forest floor, violets and ripe, black raspberry-like fruit characteristics flow nicely to a full-bodied, seamless Cote Rotie that has solid mid-palate depth and ripe tannin on the finish. There's lots to like here, but the reductive character will be something to watch and gives me a touch of concern. Give bottles another 4-5 years, at which point it will be easier to see where this is going.