2019 Domaine Clusel-Roch Côte-Rôtie Le Champon
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Tasting notes
Saturated ruby. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-tinged cherry and black raspberry, boysenberry, Moroccan spices and botanical herbs, along with suggestions of vanilla and candied flowers. Offers deeply concentrated yet lively red and dark berry preserve, spicecake, cola and salty olive flavors that are sharpened by a building spicy note. Shows outstanding clarity and mineral drive on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with outstanding tenacity.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
First bottled separately in 2018, the 2019 Cote Rotie Le Champon comes from an east-facing site that Clusel says delivers more concentration but also more freshness. It's an impressive wine this year, with scents of crushed stone, black olives and raspberries on the nose, ample concentration and richness on the medium to full-bodied palate and a long, silky-textured finish.
100% Syrah. Organic. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Cocoa nib and earthy notes dominate the nose. Lively palate of white pepper, blackberry and sweet fruit. Finely tuned tannins with a freshly ground coffee note. Good vibrancy and lots of earthiness on the finish. (AC)
Mineral- and smoke-accented dark berry preserve and cherry aromas are complemented by a spicy nuance that builds with air. Densely packed, impressively concentrated blackberry and bitter cherry flavors show serious depth and sharp detail. Finishes broad and emphatically spicy, with chewy tannins lending shape to impressively persistent blue fruit and floral notes.