Tom Kobylarz

9.8

If there were ever an archetypical Syrah, Jamet's Cote-Rotie would be a strong candidate. To me this is a pure expression of a classic Northern Rhone Syrah. It is not a single site, but a blend of terroirs, encompassing over 20 sites mostly from hard rock schist bedrock with little to no topsoil. There is NO Viognier in this wine like one might expect from most Cote-Rotie that might have 1-5% co-fermented.

Importantly, there is also a lot less of the oak character that can dominate and overwhelm many Northern Rhone wines. The oak maturation, while not short at 22 months, only uses 15% new oak with no trace of it on the palate as it is perfectly integrated. Grape bunches are whole cluster fermented and macerated for up to 3 weeks.

The 2007 we have here was drinking superbly for a young wine, showing lively and racy layers of peppercorn spice, roast beef, and warm blackberry and currant fruit from the hot 2007 vintage. While from a warm vintage, not a hair is out of place. Density and purity exude from the nose and hint at what a brilliant future this wine has. Perfect acidity and fleshy ripe tannin provide the backbone structure for father time to peel back the layers of this beauty. I will be chceking back in 5 years at the earliest. — 8 years ago

James Parker Huston, CWE

Sommelier Charlie Palmer

9.5

This wine was singing tonight! In a great place. 1994 is a classic vintage for me. — 9 years ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Delicious. In a great place. Fresh, powerful and complex. Very appetizing. — 9 years ago

Doctor No

9.2

Fresh and beginning to develop some nice tertiary characteristics. In a good place. — 10 years ago

Jordan Salcito

Sommelier/Wine Director Momofuku, Vintner Bellus Wines

9.7

1996 Vintage is in a beautiful place at the moment. — 10 years ago

Bethany D'Meza

9.3

tobacco, leather.... in a great place .... — 10 years ago

Chris Forest

9.2

Dark berries currants and spices on the nose with some eucalyptus and possibly sun-dried tomatoes. A nice nose that is more new world than old world. Lots of spices, dark berries, a little bit of heat from the alcohol with minerals, currents and some hints wood on the Finish. Full bodied some tannins present but well-integrated. The wine is tight young but showing potential in the future.. Needs to be cellared for a few years. — 9 years ago

Liz Thach MW

9.9

The wine I celebrated with when I finally became an MW. It will always hold a very special place in my heart. — 9 years ago

Jaume

9.4

29 years old and drank incredibly well. What a treat. The big fruits have softened but in their place is now a brooding torrent of notes which evolved from sip to sip. Quite a remarkable wine. — 9 years ago

Vic Petroff

9.2

Wow. In a good place. So smooth & silky, balanced, soft tannins. Just nice. — 9 years ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.4

Fantastic wine in a fantastic place. — 10 years ago

with Elena

Morgan Harris

Head Sommelier Aureole New York

9.4

2011. Blanc. No one drinks enough of this. That's because there are so few things to which its a good partner, but it would be an incredible cheese-and-charcuterie wine. Broad and oily, there's just enough acid to keep you coming back for more. Sun-baked yellow orchard fruits dominate, but there's more exotic fruits too (mango and dried pineapple) yellow flowers, tons of almond husk bitterness, green olives, bay leaf, oregano, tarragon, white cheddar. Oak is assertively present but not overwhelming. Place dominates over grapes here, as it's a mix of Clairette and Grenache Blanc and a hodge-podge of other things. — 10 years ago

Dave Smigielski

9.2

In a beautiful place. Youthful vibrant nose that evolves with every pour. Palate is a bit thin. The thought is this vintage peaked a couple years back. Last glass was cedar, lavender, tobacco and graphite — 11 years ago

Michael Meagher MS

Chairman/Founder Boston Sommelier Society, Beverage Director Cafe Escadrille

9.6

One of the best 1997s I've had in years. Racy acid, exotic spice, turmeric, cumin and tannins still firmly in place — 9 years ago

with Brahm and Kathy

Conrad Green

9.4

Really good. White flowers minerality. Very raveneau. A touch of lemon, lychee and lime with great stony minerality. A bit shorter on the finish than the valmur a but very in place. Excellent — 9 years ago

with Naoko, Larry and 1 other

Jeffrey Lew

9.6

Man this hits me just in the right place. Dark fruit, texture, some earth and great structure for the long run with out being to extracted into a fruit bomb. Classic Napa cab. — 9 years ago

Christian Alexander Møller Bach

9.4

Wines like this might be the main reason why I fell in love with natural wines in the first place. Juicy, elegant and highly drinkable, but demands your attention at every goddamn sip. — 9 years ago

Jason Heller

Master Sommelier

9.5

Four different bottles and all over the place. One fresh, poised and lively. Another, overly oxidized and caramel. Other two in the middle. Ratings for the best of them. — 10 years ago

Amy Morgan

9.1

A medium + intensity of Black fruits (black cherry, black currants) dark chocolate, mint, tobacco and cedar. Nose and palate matching in flavor profile and complexity. Still tight and will just get better with age. — 10 years ago

Gerry Schwartz

9.7

Same place in Cannes. Amazing food at decent prices — 11 years ago