2020 Cote Rotie
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Tasting notes
Harvested mid-September and from a lieu-dit in the southern part of the appellation, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge (100% Syrah with 40% stems) was vinified and aged in barrels, some of which were new. It's a powerful, medium to full-bodied beauty that has a gorgeous nose of black raspberries, smoked meats, ground pepper, and a beautiful sense of minerality. It's ripe, concentrated, yet balanced, with ample tannins.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The complex 2020 Côte-Rôtie Maison Rouge is made of grapes from up to 100-year-old vines and used roughly 40% whole-clusters during fermentation. It unwinds with wonderfully intense crushed violet aromatics, interwoven with blackcurrant, raspberry, cedar and spicy undertones. Medium- to full-bodied, well-structured and concentrated, this is an outstanding Côte-Rôtie that readers can begin to approach about two years from now.
Stacks of smoked bacon character and very ripe black fruit aromas on the nose. Very powerful and compact on the full-bodied palate. Massive tannin structure, but the tannins are so fine and so beautifully integrated. Enormous depth at the imposing and very long finish. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.
About the producer
A legendary name, Domaine Georges Vernay crafts some of the finest whites in the world, having championed Condrieu when it was on the brink of extinction. The estate is best known for its single-site Coteau de Vernon Condrieu and is now in the hands of the third and fourth generation of the family.