Rene Rostaing, Cote Rotie, Ampodium 2010

92 points Decanter Harmonious on the nose, still with plenty of fresh berry fruit. Gentle, velvety, with blackberries and raspberries all shot through with spicy stalk elements. Cinnamon, oregano, leather and subtle liquorice, finishing long and tapered. A good time to drink now, but will happy last several more years if kept in good condition. No destemming. Aged in 228l oak barriques and 600l demi-muids for 24 months using a minimum of new oak, just to renew barrels where necessary (typically 10%). (MW) (3/2020) Not counting the much larger Guigal domaine, Rene Rostaing is the closest thing to a true cult star that Côte-Rôtie has yet produced. A grower since 1971, his first vineyard purchases were a microscopic half acre each in Côte Blonde and in La Landonne on the Côte Brune. The real breakthrough came when his father-in-law, Albert Dervieux-Thaize retired in 1990, followed by his uncle Marius Gentaz-Dervieux three years later. Between these two legendary growers, Rostaing acqui