Cote Rotie Lieu Dit Montmain, Domaine Ferraton 2015

I loved the 2015 Côte Rôtie Lieu Dit Montmain (100% Syrah aged in 15% new oak), which comes from a site in the northern part of the appellation, just past Les Grandes Places. It offers a surprisingly nuanced, elegant style as well as terrific notes of dried flowers, caramelized raspberries, spice and dried herbs. Inky colored, concentrated and forward, with sweet, polished tannin, drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.

The team at Ferraton makes two Côte Rôties, both of which are brilliant examples of the quality now coming from this estate. Slightly more expensive than the l’Eglantine, the 2015 Côte Rôtie Lieu Dit Montmain (100% Syrah aged in 15% new French oak) is also full-bodied and impressively concentrated, with notes of acacia flowers, toasted spices, black raspberries and brioche. It has fabulous tannin quality, no hard edges and a big finish, all suggesting it will have a long life.