2012 Cote Rotie La Mordoree
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Tasting notes
(all old Serine vines): Bright purple. Potent mineral- and spice-accented cherry and blackberry scents are complicated by notes of mocha, pipe tobacco and fresh flowers. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering deeply concentrated dark fruit flavors that gain energy and spiciness with aeration. Powerful yet lithe and sharply focused, finishing very long, with strong cut and dusty tannins that sneak in late.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
While I loved Michel's 2012 Cote Rotie la Mordoree from barrel, it blew me away from bottle, and I think bares more than a passing resemblance to his 1991. About as elegant and seamless as they come, it exhibits incredible notes of violets, peppery spice, spring flowers, rose petal and darker berry fruit. This is followed by a full-bodied, sweetly fruited, expansive Cote Rotie that's perfectly balanced, has beautiful mid-palate density, and ultra-fine tannin that emerge on the finish. It's a blockbuster effort to drink over the coming two decades.
Inky ruby. Sexy, intensely perfumed aromas of blackberry, cherry-cola and violet, with allspice, cola and olive nuances building with air. Sweet and penetrating in the mouth, showing a seamless texture and vibrant dark berry compote and violet pastille flavors. Finishes with excellent energy and focus, leaving cola and smoky mineral notes behind.
Syrah, 14-18 months in 225-litre barrique with a small proportion new. Mica, schist and loess. This parcel of vines is situated on the borders of the Côte Blonde. Very dark and intense, almost stewed! Lots of sweet fruit but also some recognisable northern Rhône Syrah leather character. Good energy. A bit sweeter than usual. (JR)