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Côte Rôtie Ampodium, Domaine René Rostaing 2016

Tasting Notes

This is very solidly built, nearly bristling with briary energy along the edges while the core of steeped plum, cherry and currant fruit cruises through. Mouthwatering savory, tobacco and olive notes score the finish, all set against a lovely floral accent in the background. Best from 2022 through 2036. 1,700 cases made.

94
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, May 2019

Moving to the 2016s and starting with the 2016 Côte Rôtie Ampodium, this beautiful, silky, incredibly elegant wine has classic notes of red and black fruits, spring flowers, hints of bacon fat as well as green olive. Medium-bodied, about as graceful and elegant as they come, with sweet tannins and a great finish, it’s a no-brainer purchase to drink over the coming 10-15 years. I followed this bottle for two days and it does best with a decant if drinking any time soon.

93
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, December 2018

At this early stage the Ampodium is still reductive and warrants decanting for at least an hour before approaching, or 2-3 years more in bottle. With air it has pure blue fruit, fresh blackcurrant and a light pepperines on the nose. The palate is pure and compact, led by black hedgerow fruits and sweet spices. Bright acidity cuts through the riper fruit notes and leaves a savoury, mineral finish.

92+
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, July 2019

I tasted from a barrel that Rostaing said represented something "close to the final blend" of the 2016 Cote Rotie Ampodium. This medium-bodied wine features classic notes of violets, spice and raspberries and has ample flesh covering its silky, tea-like backbone of ripe tannins. It should drink well young.

91/93
Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (234), December 2017
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.