Xavier Gerard Cote Rotie 2020

Introduction

Great Cote-Rotie tastes and feels like it was chiselled from stone. Thats because it is! The vineyards of Xavier Gerard cling to terraced hillsides of granite and schist, producing the most exquisitely perfumed examples of Syrah in the world. Superstar Xavier Gerards limited bottling is a tour de force!

A fully dimensional and illustrative nose of grilled meat, savoury herbs, bramble, black cherry, cured olive, and granitic minerals is both classic and precise. A deftly crafted palate shows generous, fine tannins. A Syrah lover’s Syrah, it’s at home with grilled lamb chops, seared duck breast, or medium-aged cheeses.

97 Points – Decanter

Wonderfully fresh and expressive, with a touch of black pepper hiding among the menthol and deep, dark berry fruits. Medium- to full-bodied, this has stacks of rich, sweet berry fruit and driving acidity, then ends neat and precise. Very well-integrated oak brings a spicy complexity, but the site is more prominent than the method.