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This 2013 Côte Rötie reveals a fruity, meaty and fine taste. This is largely due to the coupage: Syrah (90%) and Viognier (10%). The latter gives it an extra aromatic complexity and richness. A great wine that keeps really well.
Notes :- Gault & Millau 17.5/20
Wine characteristics
- Vintage : Côte Rôtie
- Year : 2013
- Appellation : Côte Rôtie
- Colour : Red
- Grape types : 90 % syrah 10 % viognier
- Soil : Mixture of brown schist and loamy schist
- Harvest : Manual
- Type of viticulture : As naturally as possible by limiting organic inputs
Tasting - Cellaring
- Appearance : Dark colour with violet hues
- Nose : Jammy red fruit and violet tones
- Mouth : Supple, aromatic
- Serving temperature : 18 °
- Cellaring : 10-15 years
- Drink from : 2016
- Winemaking process : Cold pre-fermentation maceration. Alcoholic fermentation at 35°. Post-fermentation maceration at 30°. Malolactic fermentation in casks. 3 stompings per day.
- Maturation : 18 months in Allier casks, of which 50% are new
Food-matching
- Food-matching : Beef side with mushrooms, farm poultry with Chanterelle mushrooms
Experts reviews :
Gault & Millau
Rated wine : 17.5/20
Domain :
Pierre Gailard cleared several plots and planted his first vines in 1981. Now the owner of around thirty hectares, apart from his business activity, he gets the best out of the steep slopes in the different appellations of the region with talent and passion.
Appellation :
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The Rhône Valley takes its name from the river that winds through the winemaking region over almost 200 km and is made up of two distinct parts: the northern Côtes du Rhône and southern Côtes du Rhône. The grape varieties, winemaking methods, and soil types but also the climates are relatively different. The region is the second biggest producer of AOC wine after the Bordeaux wine region.
The northern Rhône is one of the oldest wine-making regions in France. 65-km long, it stretches from Vienne (in the north) to Valence (in the south). This almost uninterrupted expanse of vineyards covers the appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Château Grillet, Saint-Joseph, Cornas and Saint-Péray. All these appellations are planted in terraces on steep slopes that run down to the river from the west. As for the vineyards of Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage, they can be found on the east bank.
The climate of the northern Rhône is continental in nature. The summers are hot and very sunny whilst the winters are quite harsh.
The soils are mainly made up of porous granites and shale covered with a fine layer of earth.
Syrah is the only grape variety used for red wines in these northern vineyards, producing dark robed, tannin-rich wines that are generous in body. The majority are excellently suited to ageing. As for the white wines, several grape varieties are grown: viognier, roussanne and marsanne, which are among the rarest and most original whites.
Like most French wines, those of the Rhône Valley bear the name of the place where they come from, but are not subject to a classification system.
The most recent vintages
- 2011: an abundant and heterogeneous harvest producing supple, pleasurable wines.
- 2012: a very good vintage, with palatable wines thanks to their fine freshness and moderate alcohol content.
- 2013: this is another vintage with welcome freshness and lesser alcohol content. These wines are not very tannic and should be enjoyed young whilst still delectable.
- 2014: in the North and in the South, a cool summer and a stormy September have created supple and charming red wines and very drinkable whites thanks to a fine acidity. Limited racking potential.