WTN: P. Gaillard Cote Rotie 1999

My first bottle of 6.

Showing quite a developed but solid brick red colour, this quite fascinating Syrah/Voignier blend from a revered Cote Rotie vintage, throws up an exaggerated but exciting bouquet of violets and a little apricot over concentrated briary black fruits, smoked meat, earth and minerals. The palate is sleek and voluptuous with a bevy of nuance as just mentioned, harbouring sprightly acidity and a silky but assertive tannin regime which augurs well for another five years careful cellaring and possibly another 5 years enjoyable drinking thereafter. Although this wine is a most enjoyable drop today, it just doesn't scale the heights of the best Cote-Rotie producers. 90 points.

[James Roscoe]

Will you need garden work done next summer? Do you think you could pay me enough to get over and back? Great note as always. I wish I had more than one generic Cote Rotie in my cellar. One is better than none however.