2015 CÔTE RÔTIE, François et Fils. Northern Rhône

Côte-Rôtie is a renowned appellation near to Hermitage in the Northern Rhône. However unlike its neighbour, the style is all about elegance and freshness, not power and intensity. The steep slopes using grapes
This wine comes from three vertiginous south facing parcels, ‘Les Rochains’, ‘Rozier’ and ‘Le Bourrier’, in the ‘Côte Brune’ section, on schisty soil.

95% Syrah (a third of that fermented as ‘whole bunches’) and 5% Viognier, matured in oak for 18 months (20% new oak)

A classic small French farm – with only 4 hectares of vines and still making more cheese than wine. They only keep the very best grapes for their own wine, selling off the rest to the larger merchant producers.

Already delicious, but improving steadily through to 2030.

Young, of course, but this is a classic example with peppery freshness and real elegance.

“The family bottled its first wine in 1991 and has since maintained very high standards, only using grapes from three south-facing slopes rich in mica-schist soil, suitable for the 30-year-old vines.
Gearoid Devaney MS: There is a lot of pleasure here from ripe red fruit, smooth and ripe tannins, great harmony and lovely texture.”