Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

For all of you that drink; SQN, Cayuse & Horsepower, if you haven’t tried a well aged Rostaing, you are missing the best aspect of Syrah.

Côte de Rôtie translates in English into Roasted Slope. That’s exactly what this wine defines.

The Ampodium is a blend of 7-8 different Rhône vineyards. 2010 a dynamic vintage in Northern Rhône.

I bought this recently at auction and it has been decently stored but not quite ideally stored.

The nose reveals; roasted chestnut, stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries on the high nose & backend of the fruit, used coffee grounds, soft leather, dry tobacco, savory meats, dark, moist soils, anise to black licorice, fresh sage & bay leaf with candied; dark, red, blue, purple florals in a field of lavender.

The palate is; fresh, ripe, juicy, elegant and nicely resolved. The structure, tension, balance and length are perfect. It is for the palates that love elegance & beauty, not brawn & ABV. Roasted chestnut, stewed; blackberries, black raspberries, black plum, raspberries, dark cherries, juicy, ripe strawberries backend of the fruit, used coffee grounds, soft leather, dry tobacco, savory meats, smoke, dark, moist soils, anise to black licorice, light purple cola, fresh sage & bay leaf with candied; dark, red, blue, purple florals in a field of lavender. The acidity is round & stream like. The finish is in perfect balance, harmony that settled softy yet speaks volumes.

Paired with the Cardiff Chipotle Tri-tip. The best Tri-tip we’ve had. You can order at CardiffCrack.com. Not inexpensive though. The best never is!

Photos of; me in the La Landonne Vineyard, Rene Rostaing and our tour with Pierre Rostaing in their La Landonne Vineyard. What an afternoon!

Producer notes, Pierre (son of Rene & now Winemaker) uses up to 100% of the stems - believing they contribute to Côte Rôtie’s ineffable perfume. Macerations last from 7 to 20+ days, and the wines enjoy a long élevage in a mix of barrels and time-honored pièce for aging, so that no more than 15% of a given vintage sees new wood. — 5 years ago

with James and Christina

Nic Anderson

9.5

Love Black Stallion. Great cab went extremely well with a tri-tip steak. One of my favorite all time cabs. Great finish, fruity, but still bold — 7 years ago

Alex Lallos

Owner No Limit Fine Wines, Private Wine Consultant

9.1

Knowing that my Williams selyem shipment is around the corner, I thought I'd open this 14 up with family and friends. Took an hour to fully emerge but when it did we found classic sonoma county Pinot. Lovely wine and perfect with BBQ tri tip (Santa Maria style) — 7 years ago

G

9.0

Very good wine — 8 years ago

Martin Mazner

9.4

Wonderful example of classic, balanced California cab. Just say no to high alcohol fruit bombs. Intense yet delicate and profound. Served with perfectly BBQ tri tip. Yum! — 8 years ago

Michael Flynn

9.3

Super bowl 2017 with whole family. Liter bottle. Fantastic. Decanted 21/2 hrs ahead. You know immediately when you have an exceptional wine. Lovely black raspberry and caramel. Long delicious aftertaste with rare tri- tip and roasted veggies. Great evening, disappointing result ( football). — 8 years ago

Nic Anderson

8.9

Blackberry, jam, and oak are our notes. Paired well with tri-tip and it was okay with dark chocolate. Got it on sale at Total Wine. I’d pay $12 for it, I don’t about about $20. I’m guessing this Zin, like others would go well with BBQ. — 5 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

This is an insiders wine. You have study, focus and taste a lot wine to know how special this wine can drink. Especially, at its QPR.

There are a lot of people that covet SQN, Caycuse, Horsepower and No Girls. For my palate, these wines either burn the palate with ABV or choke off the fruit with way too much bacon fat and or deeply marinaded grilled meats. Yes, you are drinking expensive, flashy producers but, I would humbly disagree they are better wines than this 2011 Le Clos Du Caillou Vielles Vignes Cuvée Unique. Those other wines should aspire to be everything this 2011 shows and delivers.

This Le Clos Du Caillou has the balance the above wines lack and at a fraction of the price point. I would drink this 2011 over any of the other fore mentioned wines. While this Le Clos Du Caillou is a shade hot, it is not nearly as hot as SQN etc.. Hot ABV alcohol that burns the palate & back of the throat will forever be a fatal flaw in a wine.

The nose reveals, ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, black, dry earth, savory, grilled meats, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals.

The body is rich and mid full. Tannins just 50% resolved with round, dark tarry teethiness. The structure, tension, length and balance are harmonious...just before their peak. Ripe; blackberries, dark cherries, blue & purple fruit mix, raspberries that haut the center palate on the long set, poached & back strawberries, black raspberries and both plums. Dark, sweet tarriness, dry, crushed rocks, limestone minerals, steeped teas, anise stretching to black licorice, hint of dry herbs with bay leaf leading the way, dry brush, dry black earth, dry stone wrapped in moist clay, savory, grilled meats, some bacon fat, medium, dark spice, understated baking spices; clove, nutmeg, vanilla and a touch of clove, Mix of caramel & mocha powder, dark & mid red fruit cola, just a whiff of incense with candied, fresh and withering red & dark florals. The acidity is phenomenal. The long, ripe, well balanced & textured, elegant finish is memorable and is persistent for several minutes.

Wine paired perfectly with our marinated Tri-tip.

If you are over paying for the above lesser wines mentioned above, you owe it to yourself to seek out and cellar this wine appropriately.

Photos of; Le Clos Du. Caillou, their barrel room, Owners-Sylvie Vacheron & Bruno Gaspard and one of their vineyards. It’s amazing they can grow anything in that stone soil structure.
— 6 years ago

Lenny Joseph

9.6

Ringing in the New Year with the 2008 vintage Dunamis blend paired with smoked tri-tip...amazing — 7 years ago

Michael Medina

9.1

Delicious, smooth great representative of Haut-Médoc. Went great with Burgundy wine tri tip. — 8 years ago

with Rox

Daniel helms

9.7

Nice. Pulled it out to share with the wife and daughter over a nice tri-tip. The Mrs. & I loved it. Peppery and smooth with a bit of tannin left. Should be great for a few more years. — 8 years ago

Curtis Stuteville

8.9

2005 purchased at the chateau. Medium bodied but with a nice long somewhat floral finish. Unusual for a St Esteph, which usually has a more earthy profile. Medium tannins and medium bodied. Not quite enough oomph to stand up to the barbecued tri-tip we had but very nice. — 8 years ago

Danielle Shea

9.0

A much bigger and bolder Claret from winemaker Matt Loso. Notes of stewed plum, chicory and currant jam. Full bodied and complex on the palate, mild to medium tannin with a velvet finish. Great addition to my Christmas table paired with coffee rubbed tri tip steaks. — 5 years ago

AHF

9.6

Amazing value. Sweet but mellow. Pillow soft palate. — 6 years ago

Bo Conrad

8.9

This is a wonderful wine. Made to be paired with grilled meat or other hearty food. Not so much alone — 6 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.1

Very nice blend. Dry and mouth watering. Makes me want to have a steak right away. Rating upped to 91 after having the bottle with some burgundy tri tip. Just a really great smooth wine. Very delicious. I need to buy more. I think the rating will increase again. Amazing value too. — 6 years ago

Stephen Goularte

9.2

Excellent pairing with our grilled Tri-Tip and Verdure. A little tight at first but after half hour she opens up and sings in the glass. — 7 years ago

Randy Fuller

9.6

This wine is completely dark, in color, aromas and taste. On the nose, loads of big, black, burly, brambly fruit, with a healthy dollop of smoky sage and what I can only call burnt cinnamon. The palate offers brawn and blackberries paving a roadway for licorice and spice. Pair it with anything off the grill, especially tri-tip or rib eye. — 7 years ago

Bill Fitzgerald

9.3

Amazing with Santa Maria tri tip — 8 years ago

with Rebecca

WC Fields

9.1

Blueberries, graphite, sage and blackberry jam. Nice with tri tip. — 8 years ago