95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Big florals and raspberries mark the nose of Saint Cosme's 2019 Cote Rotie. Hints of stems show through, and this wine clearly would benefit from a few years in the cellar, but it is far from being unapproachable. Normally a blend of several lieux-dits, it sees about 30% new oak in its élevage, but the wood is scarcely noticeable. Medium to full-bodied, creamy and supple on the palate, with a long, fruit-infused finish, this should age gracefully for a decade or more. A racy, high-pitched, mineral-driven style, with raspberry and damson plum coulis notes pierced with savory and sanguine accents. The long, tight-grained, iron-edged finish resonates.
95 Points Wine & Spirits
If you’re looking for the dark side of Côte-Rôtie, this isn’t it. Instead, it’s lean and lithe, capturing the Rhône’s most northerly appellation in all its stony cool. Louis Barruol makes it from sérine, an old selection of syrah that he finds to be especially aromatic, which he gathers from a range of parcels and then allows to spontaneously ferment as whole bunches. Its floral notes come through clearly, lending lift and complexity to the woodsy berry fruit; herbal notes work with the tart cherry fruit to accent the wine’s cool savor. Vivacious and fresh, it’s a mouthwatering wine that should age well in the cellar for many years to come.
95 Points Vinous
Saturated magenta. Vibrant, mineral-accented dark berry and cherry-cola aromas are complicated by suggestions of licorice, smoked meat and exotic spices. Densely packed and sharply focused on the palate, offering juicy blackberry, kirsch, smoky bacon and violet pastille flavors that become firmer and spicier with aeration. Marries richness and finesse with a sure hand and finishes impressively long and precise, with solid floral thrust and polished, slowly building tannins. 100% whole clusters and a third new oak.
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2019 Côte Rôtie, which is all whole cluster Syrah, offers a more full-bodied, rich, powerful style while still holding on to plenty of elegance. Blackberries, crushed stone, ground pepper, and violets define the bouquet, and I love its balance, it brings lots of fruit yet stays pure and fresh, and it has a great finish. This is a ripe, powerful vintage for Côte Rôtie, and this handles it nicely.
Winemaker Notes
On the palate, it reveals a fresh attack followed by an ample, structured, long-lasting finish. The wine unfurls in successive stages and ends with top-quality tannins produced by whole cluster fermentation. It features aromas and flavors of smoked ham, violet, graphite, graphite, and licorice. Syrah, with its deep flavors and firm tannins, is a natural match for grilled or smoked meat and dishes featuring herbs, roasted mushrooms, and onions. Seared venison or beef with black pepper and thyme or a Moroccan tagine of pigeon or chicken are complimented by the spicy characteristic of Syrah.