Rene Rostaing, Cote-Rotie Cote Blonde, 2021

Côte Blonde 2021 is one of the crown jewels of René Rostaing’s cellar, sourced from the estate’s oldest and best-exposed vines on the Côte Blonde hillside. These vines—many inherited from Rostaing’s legendary father-in-law, Albert Dervieux—grow in soils of gneiss and mica, giving the wine a uniquely aromatic and supple expression compared to the more brooding wines from Côte Brune. The 2021 vintage brought a return to cooler, more classic conditions, allowing Syrah to ripen slowly and retain acid structure and aromatic detail. Rostaing’s use of whole-cluster fermentation, native yeasts, and aging in neutral oak results in a wine that’s layered and pure without overt oak or extraction. Expect aromas of violet, red berries, smoked herbs, and cured meat, followed by a palate that’s silky, savory, and long, with fine tannins and stony lift. There's a subtle hint of pepper and olive tapenade on the finish—classic Northern Rhône markers, handled with grace. This is a wine to age 10–20 yea