2022 Christophe Pichon Côte-Rôtie Promesse

Red plums, blackberries, framboise, violets, and smoked meat emerge from the 2022 Côte Rôtie Promesse, with a kiss of graphite emerging as it sits in the glass. Medium to full-bodied and nicely concentrated on the palate, it has plenty of tannins and beautiful balance yet will need time in bottle to show at its best. This concentrated effort shows the tannic side to the vintage but is clearly an outstanding wine. Drink 2027-2037. Based in Chavanay, Christophe Pichon farms 23 hectares across the Northern Rhône, with holdings in Condrieu, Côte Rôtie, Cornas, Saint Joseph, and a small parcel in Hermitage (I believe on the eastern side of the appellation). The Condrieu sees fermentation and aging in oak barrels, with a portion in new oak, for about 10 to 12 months. It's often a forward, soft, and charming expression of the appellation. His Côte Rôtie holdings span about 5.9 hectares in both the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune sectors, with an additional 1.3 hectares added in 2020. The Côte Rôtie Promesse is a blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier, aged for 13 months in oak barrels, 75% of which are new and 25% one-year-old. The Rozier cuvée undergoes a similar aging élevage, while the La Comtesse from Côte Blonde sees 18 months in new oak. Pichon's Condrieu comes from 5.5 hectares of granite-rich, south-facing slopes and spends roughly 10 to 12 months in barrels, with minimal use of new oak. It's always a forward, charming wine. As always, all of these latest releases from Pichon are impeccably made, high-quality wines.