2007 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places
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Tasting notes
Saturated ruby. Explosively perfumed array of dark berry, floral and spicy scents, with notes of cracked pepper and minerals adding urgency. Sweeter and more inviting than it was from barrel, offering lively black raspberry and kirsch flavors and a strong mineral underpinning. Tannins sneak in on the finish but are hidden by the energetic fruit. The finish is spicy, sweet and very persistent. You could drink this soon, without guilt.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2007 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places is attractive in an up-front, oaky manner. It possesses some sweet cherry and black currant fruit, but the oak component dominates at present. There is plenty of concentration for a 2007, but this will be a wine to drink during its first 7-8 years of life. Jean-Michel Gerin used to sell 30% of his production in the United States, but when I visited him in late 2007, he was no longer exporting his wines to America. He told me he was not getting paid, and I suspect he is only one of what will undoubtedly be many casualties of the international economic crisis. It is sad to see consumers being denied access to some of the best wines being made in France as well as elsewhere. Importer: Bond Street Imports (www. bondstreetimports.com)
Deep ruby. Strikingly complex on the nose, which shows a wild array of botanical herbs, cherry-cola, blackcurrant and licorice. Deeply concentrated dark berry flavors possess liqueur-like power but are enlivened by tangy minerals. Tannins gain strength with air and add firmness to a long, chewy finish. Much more serious than the Landonne right now.