1991 Cote Rotie

The wise and experienced Gentaz was in agreement with my observation that 1991 was consistently better for Cote Rotie than 1990. The 1991 displays additional body and concentration, as well as the potential for a longer evolution in the bottle. Neither of these vintages will be nearly as long-lived as the exceptional 1988 Gentaz produced. The 1991 offers a deep ruby/purple color, a sweet nose of roasted black-raspberry fruit, saddle leather, ground beef, and damp earth. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied, with a velvety texture, excellent to outstanding concentration, and a long, sweet, round finish. If you object to the leathery, meaty smells of the "brett" yeast, then avoid this wine. Importer: Kermit Lynch, Berkeley, CA.

Deep ruby-red. Penetrating, perfumed aromas of cassis, iron, leather and brown spices; here one smells the absence of new oak without picking up any suggestion of old wood. Vibrant, taut and high in acidity; violet and pepper flavors are just beginning to evolve. Has a truly noble rusticity. The tannins are extremely fine. A classic example of a Cote Rotie made from the petit serine - the "real" syrah that has been largely supplanted by clonal selections since World War II. A wine of great finesse. Marius Gentaz, alas, retired in 1993.