2012 Domaine René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Inky ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense aromas of red fruit liqueur, potpourri, smoky minerals and white pepper; smells like a very serious Burgundy from a ripe year. Palate-staining raspberry and floral pastille flavors are accented by an exotic jolt of blood orange. Gains weight and sweetness with air, finishing with resonating minerality and outstanding persistence. This graceful wine should enjoy a long evolution thanks to its balance.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
I think the best wine here (at the moment anyways) is the 2012 Cote Rotie Cote Blonde. More reserved and closed initially, it has subtle, yet seductive notes of black raspberry, blackberry, toasted spice, smoke earth and cured meat that gradually open up in the glass. This is followed by a full-bodied, dense, substantial Cote Rotie that has awesome polish to its tannin, a great mid-palate and a smoking finish. It too needs short-term cellaring, but will keep for 2-3 decades.
Inky purple. Sexy aromas of cassis, cherry compote and Asian spices. Supple, pliant and fine-grained, with intense, palate-staining dark berry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors complemented by zesty minerality. Densely packed, suave and polished, finishing with gentle tannins and superb focus, energy and thrust. This wine's blend of power and finesse makes it one of the best 2012s I tasted on my November tour.
Classic Rostaing leafiness: delicate, fresh and refined. Lovely minerality and dry texture and great length. For lovers of delicacy rather than power and density. (JH)