2018 Domaine Joel Champet Cote-Rotie la Viaillere
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Youthful aromas of crème de framboise emerge on the nose of Champet's 2018 Cote Rotie la Vialliere accented by the scents of violets, vaguely herbal nuances and cracked pepper. Showing admirable purity and freshness, this medium-bodied effort has to rank up there with the 2015 as being among the domaine's top recent efforts. The tannins are silky, blending seamlessly into the wine's fruit-driven flesh, while the lingering finish folds in savory complexities reminiscent of olive and espresso.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Readers who love old school Côte Rôtie that demands bottle age will love this beauty. Revealing a deep purple color as well as a mineral-drenched bouquet of black raspberries, camphor, new saddle leather, and peppery herbs, the 2018 Côte Rôtie La Vialliere hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, notable concentration, ripe yet firm, present tannins, and a great finish. This tannic, backward, yet impressive Côte Rôtie is going to demand 5-7 years of bottle age and keep for 20+ years.
Dark violet. Spice- and mineral-accented black and blue fruit aromas show excellent definition and pick up olive, smoky bacon and candied violet notes with air. Sappy and concentrated but energetic as well, offering palate-staining blackberry, bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors that become spicier as the wine opens up. Melds power and finesse with a sure hand and finishes impressively long and sweet, with chewy tannins building steadily. All whole clusters and 10% new oak, a combination of foudres and demi-muids .