| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Rhône > Northern Rhône > Côte Rotie |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 2021 Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune is a towering success. It unwinds with a mesmerizingly complex perfume of juniper, crushed violets, chamomile, blueberry jam, menthol and herbal tea. Licorice and black pepper add spicy subtleties, complemented by ferrous and stemmy undertones. Although there is more ripeness and density compared to the classic Côte-Rôtie, the 2021 Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune remains medium-bodied at most. Velvety tannins caress the palate and provide gentle structure to what essentially is a textbook Côte Brune of singular class. With so many copycats in the world of wine, the 2021 Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune is an original that could only be made by the talented Jamet family.
In comparison, the 2021 Côte Rôtie Côte Brune was fermented with 100% whole clusters and was raised all in barrel, mostly used. The stems are much more present here, and it has a beautiful perfume of redcurrant and black raspberry fruit that gives way to more peppery herbs, game, and violet and floral nuances. Concentrated and medium-bodied on the palate, it has fine tannins, plenty of underlying structure, and terrific balance. It's one of the few 2021s that's going to benefit from bottle age, and given its fresher yet still concentrated style, I wouldn't be surprised to see this age gracefully for at least two decades.
