Andy Tam

9.0

Very elegant and refreshing dry with flurry of bubbles — 6 years ago

Sofia Novo Swensson

9.0

2015 Beautiful! Smooth, cherry, round sweetness. No white pepper. — 7 years ago

Jan van Asseldonk

9.1

Lovely flavours of exotic fruit. Velvety and smooth in the mouth. 5 years old and very drinkable. — 7 years ago

E Junck

10

2016 syrah. Smooth, easy to drink, delicious — 7 years ago

Neal Schaffer

9.4

I can't stop drinking this... This might be a good problem... Dark red ruby in color with a medium-plus intensity. The nose is filled with dark bing cherries, fresh cranberries, wet violets, wild mushrooms, moss, forest floor, smoked wood, and wet rocks. The palate was fleshy, mysterious and refined. Mushrooms and a perfect dose of acidity and chewy tannic structure made the finish irresistible. It's balance competes and stands tall with any of the great Burgundy producers. It's truly astonishing how this 12.5% Gamay is so complex. This bottle is hard to put down. Cheers to a perfect Friday night! — 8 years ago

with Dana

Austen Ito

8.9

Green apples, grapefruit and floral. Hints of traditional Loire sauv blanc as it opened up. Medium + body, medium acid. Med plus finish. A great start to the night. — 8 years ago

Nathan Mosack

9.2

Wow! More like a Jura wine, tastes similar to ploussard. — 8 years ago

Eric Casper

9.1

Takes awhile to open up but a nice, dry and tannic Cab with low alcohol. — 9 years ago

Andrew Stellwag

9.2

Sweet and crisp. Very light flavor, a refreshing sweeter wine. — 9 years ago

with Megan

Phil Stark

9.7

Boom! That's all. — 9 years ago

Robert Klein

9.3

Almost like an unoaked Chardonnay. — 10 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

Brent Mayeaux

Production Burn Cottage Vineyard

8.9

Nice PG. Not overblown like some here can be. I unfortunately didn't pay enough attention to it. — 8 years ago

Michael Piaker

9.0

4 November 2015. Vine Wine, Brooklyn, NY. — 9 years ago

Rgayton@lakesidevfo.com

9.1

Frachessca recommended this lovely Riesling grown in atypical Quartz rich soil. Nice balance.
— 9 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2006 at Auberge du Bon Laboureur in Chenonceaux — 9 years ago

Raphael C

9.9

Le meilleur vin de terrasse!!!! — 10 years ago

Phil Stark

9.2

Really nice Pinot! Light easy drinking. From Marlborough but man it's nice. — 11 years ago

Jose Leon

9.0

Back sides of tongue tanins — 6 years ago

Alp Açık

10

Pale straw / med visco
N: green fruit / citrus fruit / herbs / slight green
P: high asi / light body / med-alc / tropical citrus
Grape fruit / lime / lemon — 7 years ago

Magda Cortez

9.1

Strong red. Matured well. — 7 years ago

Jill True

9.2

Had at Oceanaire. Delicious. — 7 years ago

Matt Knopp

9.0

Super dry, you might even miss that it's Apple but that's okay. Half way into most ciders I'm over it, no such problem here. Which is good because it's comes in a 650mL bottle. — 7 years ago

Leora Pearl Madden

9.1

Still on my small production Aussie kick. So much love for the people down under! Xoxo — 8 years ago

with Jeff, Noelle and 3 others

Michael "Bucky" Buckelew

Sommelier Ristorante del Lago at The Broadmoor Hotel, Colorado Springs

9.1

Great bubbles!! — 8 years ago

Ann Shiveley

10

Buy this again — 9 years ago

Moin Rastegar,C.S.W

9.0

Lemon citrus based nose , no ML fermentation. Good amount of weight and structure ! — 9 years ago

Johnno Harris

9.4

Delicious stuff from a tough vintage. Solid and long acid spine with tight & bright nectarine fruit notes. — 9 years ago

with Craig

Ian Benson

10

Gingery deliciousness. One of the best Chardonnays I've had — 10 years ago

Kelvin Davies

10

Super,b black current, luscious. — 10 years ago