N O

9.5

initially smelt of burnt rubber but opens up into an airy woodsy place with hints of sweetness. hints of jam, pepper, and tart blackberries. super light finish. — 5 years ago

Olivier Huguenin

9.0

Assez gras pour un Chablis, j’ai beaucoup aimé, très belle découverte de ce très bon vigneron — 6 years ago

Michael Miller

9.0

Red fruit with bright acidity and earth/mineral notes — 6 years ago

John Bloomfield

9.1

Never really listened to Magma but this is cool — 6 years ago

Amer S. Ahmed

9.1

I'm Unabashedly weak when it comes to Chenin blanc, but this really rises to the top of the heap in terms of complexity, orchard feel, and tingly finish. Bruised yellow apple and apricot with petrol viscosity, lemon meringue, tongue curling on the back, ending with a little heat — 7 years ago

Jennifer Delva

9.2

Vanilla explosions! Love love love — 7 years ago

PI WI

9.2

Un vin parfaitement maîtrisé et complexe, par un vigneron qui fait ce qu'il aime pas de contrainte lié aux appellations. Je recommande vivement ce vigneron Peter Fischer — 8 years ago

Joe Estrada

9.2

Vigneron Select 2014 vintage — 8 years ago

with Sue

Michael Hildebrand

9.1

Nice, but a bit lactose on the finish I don't like? — 8 years ago

Juan Luis García Ruiz

9.7

#monastrell #jumilla #piefranco la expresión del terruño en estado puro #vigneron #murcia #muricawine #wine Wisdom of José María Vicente #winetasting #wineporn #wines #wineandfood — 9 years ago

Laura Williamson

9.0

Great Pinot from Burgundy! Mike was gifted this bottle for 'acing' his wine final ;-) — 9 years ago

Neil Boone

9.5

Soft palate, light, crisp finish. Green apple, floral, melon notes. Selection Eric stauffenegger, vigneron imports. At Rays, Los Angeles, CA — 10 years ago

Cameron Etezadi

9.1

Beautiful expression of an underrated region. Crisp minerals, dry, and moderate acidity. Notes of lemon and chalk. — 5 years ago

Adam Dudley

9.0

Volcanic gamay — 5 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

2010 was a very good vintage in Rhône. Rostaing is a well know producer with people that know and drink Northern Rhône wines, not so much with others that do not. The Ampodium is the entry level into Rene & Pierre Rostaing wines. It is a blend of 13 vineyards in Northern Rhône. They are simply one of the very best producers in the region. I spent an afternoon with Rene & his son Pierre tasting in the their cellar and in their La Landonne vineyard as shown in the photos. The 2010 is drinking beautifully with many good years ahead. On the nose; ripe & slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries, cherries, steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, iron pan, some white & black pepper, bacon fat, grilled savory meats, pork, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with violets. The body is round and medium full. The tannins round, still a little chewy & around 55% resolved. The length, texture, tension and balance are in near perfect harmony. The fruits are; round, ruby & ripe; slightly stewed/baked fruits of; blackberries, dark cherries, strawberries, creamy raspberries, stewed plum, black raspberries & cherries. Steeped fruit tea, dry crushed rocks, chalky minerals, iron pan, coffee grounds, spice, some baking spices w/hints of vanilla, white & black pepper, drying blood, dry herbs/bay leaf, dry stems, moderate levels of bacon fat & pork, grilled savory meats, black licorice, black cherry cola, decayed & fresh red florals with fresh violets for days. The acidly is round and dripping. The long finish is plush, velvety delicious and lasts & lasts. In good vintages, I would put this in blind with the best of of the best new world wines from any vintage that many love; SQN, Booker, Saxum, Alban, Cayuse, Horsepower etc.. I’d bet most of you would pick it over these producers that cost much more $$$. It’s simply one of the best pound for pound wines/producers for this varietal. Especially, for the $$$. Wow, what a wine for the $. $55 upon release. Photos of; Winemaker Pierre Rostaing and our group in their La Landonne vineyard, the small sign that barely identifies their Estate, an example of the Quartz mineral that runs throughout their La Landonne vineyard and the view back onto the river from the top of the very steep La Landonne Vineyard. Producer notes and history...Rene Rostaing produced their first wine in 1971. However, it took almost three decades before wine became a full time occupation for Rene Rostaing. Domaine Rene Rostaing came about through marriage. The wife of Rene Rostaing was the daughter of the famed Cote Rotie grower, Albert Dervieux, and the niece of Marius Gentaz-Dervieux who gave Christine the vineyard land that became the Northern Rhone estate for Rene Rostaing. Through inheritance from Albert Dervieux Thaize (his father-in-law) who retired in 1990, and from Marius Gentaz Dervieux, his uncle, Rene Rostaing expanded his holdings, giving him some of the best terroir in Cote Rotie. The new vineyard land was basically 3 small parcels in the La Landonne, Cote Brune and Vialliere lieux-dits. This initial expansion from his initial tiny parcel, allowed Rene Rostaing to change careers and become a full time vigneron. Since 2007, the estate has managed by Pierre Rostaing, (son) of Rene Rostaing. Currently Rene Rostaing owns 7.5 hectares of vines that is spread out among 20 different parcels located in 14 locations. Perhaps the most celebrated vines of Rene Rostaing are the 1.6 hectares of vines they own in the La Landonne vineyard (photo). On La Landonne, the vines are more than 60 years old. Some vines are even close to 100 years of age! Those are his largest holdings. The smallest vineyards of Rene Rostaing are located on Cote Blonde. Rene Rostaing also has vines planted in; Fonjean, La Vialliere, Le Plomb, Bouchare, Leyat, La Roche and La Tupin. Their oldest vines are more than 70 years old and are used for Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde. The majority of those plantings are on the steep hillsides with mica, schist and rocky soils. 25% of those vines are closer to the bottom of the slopes and on the flats. Rene Rostaing remains a traditional Cote Rotie producer who is not among the last to harvest. His wines are aged using very little new, French oak barrels. On average, Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie are aged in about 10% new French oak barrels. Rene Rostaing produces 4 different Cote Rotie wines. Rene Rostaing Ampodium, which was previously known as Rostaing Cuvee Classique, is a blend of 13 sections of different vineyards, but it does not include their best holdings on La Landonne or Cote Blonde. The fruit for Rene Rostaing Ampodium has at least 40% or more of the stems removed and run between 12-13.5% abv. The wine is usually made from 100% Syrah and is aged in an average of 15% to 25% new, French oak barrels. The amount of new oak can be less, depending on the character of the vintage. About 1,750 cases are produced each year. The wine is no longer called Cuvee Classique, the name was changed to Rene Rostaing Ampodium with the 2009 vintage. Rene Rostaing La Landonne comes from a terroir consisting of sands with iron oxide and traces of quartz. This wine is always produced from 100% Syrah. The grapes are partially destemmed, with about 10% to 20% of the stems removed, depending on the vintage. There are vintages when no destemming takes place. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats. Rene Rostaing is not a believer of using too much new oak for the aging, which on average uses 10% new, French oak barrels and the remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids (600 liter) and French oak barrels. This wine is like most wines from La Landonne, masculine and meaty in character, requiring at least a decade to soften and develop. On average, Rene Rostaing La Landonne produces less than 600 cases depending on what the vintage delivers. Rene Rostaing Cote Blonde is perhaps his best. It’s produced from a blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. The grapes are co-fermented. The vineyards is planted in the region call Arzel. Arzel is a poor, mineral laden soil with deposits of Silex and Mica on a steep hillside. The vines are more than 50 years of age. The grapes are partially destemmed…35% to 50% of the stems are removed. The remainder of the grapes are whole bunch fermented in stainless steel vats.
The remainder of the harvest is aged in demi-muids. This one is the hardest to find and most collectible of all their wines. In fact, they only produce close to an average of 350 cases of Cote Rotie in most vintages. Rene Rostaing Cote Brune made its debut with the 2013 vintage. The vines were once part of the holdings of Marius Gentaz, which eventually passed to Rene Rostaing. Rostaing replanted those vines in 2000. Made from 100% Syrah. — 6 years ago

Gae Saccoccio - NdC

9.5

Robert Michel he is something of an institution when it comes to Cornas and its wines. Actually 2006 it's been his last vintage before retirement, even though he has continued to help and give advice to the young and gifted winemaker Guillaume Gilles. Cuvée des Coteaux here it comes from two parcels: Les Chaillots and Le Quartier de Renard. Michel used to make severe, uncompromised, traditionally austere and long-lived wines. Manual harvest, gentle fermentation with the entire stems, wine ageing in larger sized demi-muid cask. A pity that such a majestic vigneron doesn't make such one-shot wines any more. Though, what a patriarchal wine here we've got: power and delicacy at the same time in this 2006; purity, unsophisticated class is all I love in those kind of wines. Well, what else? Dionysus bless Michel and his solemn beverage in time and in eternity. — 8 years ago

Oliver L. Haynes IV

9.1

Light, balanced, subtle tannins, good summer wine — 9 years ago

with Sarah

Nestor Gonzalez

9.1

A true north american Vigneron.
Cool syrah. — 10 years ago

Erin Scolaro

9.8

Grilled lemons, green herbs, acid, mineral, savory finish... lovely sunshine juice. — 5 years ago

Joe Roth

9.2

Amazing color and nose. Dark fruit, not too acidic. Beautiful! — 5 years ago

with Jeff and Michael

Maciej Kurka

9.3

Getting prepped to go out for another gem - Boka. Delicious start to our evening. Wine not mature yet but 14s rock and this one really shines. Vigneron Domaine Servin — 6 years ago

Giampiero Nadali

Wine Blogger Aristide

9.5

Volcanic velvet. It’s hard to say more about this gorgeous balance and elegant roundness. After so many years, this 2002 vintage shows how skilled as a vigneron is Salvo Foti. — 7 years ago

Rianna Bennett

9.4

Black cherry, earth funk but brought and fruity. Great balance and acidity. Fun and interesting but also something I could drink regularly. Awesome baby bandol! — 7 years ago

Erik Nordman

9.2

Wonderful Saint Joseph from a rising star vigneron in the Northern Rhône. Lovely cool black fruit and mineral intensity. Fresh ripe blackberry, crushed granite, lavender and violet floral tones, and herbed green olive dominate, underscored by more subdued notes of bacon fat, cracked black pepper, and anise. Great complexity and concentration without being overextracted. Medium (+) fine tannin, medium (+) acid, medium body with great texture. This is textbook northern Rhône; utterly delicious. — 7 years ago

with Cassie

Julie Saunders

10

just one of the best natural reds on the market 👌🏽 — 8 years ago

with NicoLas

Julien Némerlin

8.9

@Niek Hartering @Roel van der Burg big surprise for'you — 8 years ago

Frej Helstrand

9.0

100% Gamay - juice! — 9 years ago

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

9.0

Fruity, bright acidity. Nuts. Citrus. Tart. Apple, pear. Intense flavors. — 9 years ago

with William

David Gissen

9.4

Really f--king good. Quand le vigneron ne gagne pas le AOC le bouteille est amusant.
— 10 years ago

Rod Seel

9.7

5-15 years cella ring — 10 years ago