Côte Rôtie Neve, Maison M. Chapoutier 2020

A wine that stopped me in my tracks was the 2020 Côtes Rôtie Nève, which comes from a single lieu-dit in the northern part of the appellation. All destemmed Syrah that spent two years in 30% new barrels, it has a hair-tingling bouquet of black raspberries, cassis, lit gunpowder, iron, and spring flowers. Pure, full-bodied, and powerful on the palate, it brings lots of ultra-fine tannins, has incredible balance, and the class to benefit from 6-7 years of bottle age and cruise for 25+ years!

Brilliant all the way, and possibly the finest vintage for this cuvée to date, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Nève is 100% Syrah from mica schist soils in the northern part of the appellation and was destemmed and is still resting in 30% new demi-muids. Gorgeous pure cassis fruit as well as crushed stone, graphite, and violet notes define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with terrific concentration, ultra-fine yet certainly present tannins, and a great finish. This structured yet flawlessly put together Côte Rôtie will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 15-20 years.