2019 Domaine de Bonserine Côte Rôtie la Sarrasine
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Tasting notes
Inky red. Powerful, oak- and mineral-accented cherry and black raspberry scents, along with floral and baking spice nuances and a hint of smoky bacon. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering sweet red and blue fruit preserve, vanilla and candied licorice flavors that slowly firm up through the back half. Finishes long and smoky, with the berry, floral and spice notes repeating. Raised in a combination of 500 and 228 liter oak barrels, 80% of them new.
Critic scores
Average Score
Alistair Cooper MW, jancisrobinson.com
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
A bit subdued and oaky on the nose, the 2019 Cote Rotie la Sarrasine is a smooth, medium-bodied effort that seems, frankly, a bit anonymous. Faint mixed-berry flavors layered with spicy oak and a distressing lack of length and texture on the finish are disappointing in a wine from such a hallowed appellation, even if it is a blended, entry-level cuvée.
97% Syrah, 3% Viognier. Aged 24 months in demi-muids. Cask sample. Tasted blind. A stalky sappy nose with grilled-meat notes. A fresh palate with plenty of acidity and rounded mouthfeel, well-judged tannins and moderate finish. Introverted at the moment, but a lovely savouriness is lurking beneath. (AC)