WTN + Q: Meffre Côte-Rôtie 2001 "Laurus"

• 2001 Gabriel Meffre Côte-Rôtie Laurus - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (10/4/2006) 13,5% 32,90€
  A strange wine - I really don't know what to think of it. The colour is rather dark. The nose is deliciously bretty and shitty, but true Côte-Rôtie in its vegetal, earthy and peachy aromas, yet at the same time it seems rather "modern" in style with opulent fruit. The palate is also a strange mix of "old style" earth aromas and "modern" fruit. Odd, but rather tasty. Not terribly complex, but approachable now.

Posted from CellarTracker

Has anyone tasted this? Was it as strangely modern and old fashioned at the same time? Anyone know what JLL has written about this producer in his tome?

[list][*]2001 Gabriel Meffre Côte-Rôtie Laurus - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (10/4/2006) 13,5% 32,90€

Has anyone tasted this? Was it as strangely modern and old fashioned at the same time? Anyone know what JLL has written about this producer in his tome?

Odd that such a straightforward question hasn't been answered yet, Otto. Here's what JLL has to say:

"The Gigondas negociant serves a Cote-Rotie Laurus from a mix of schist-clay-loose granite sources: La Vialliere and Leyat, plus the plateau sites of La Brosse and Le Champin, and Semons in the Southern Zone. It is pure Syrah.

The crop is destemmed and receives a three-week maceration-fermentation. Ageing is in 275-litre new oak casks and lasts 18 months.
[...]
2001 ** Quite dense, sustained bouquet - cooked fruits, light pepper. Pretty, oily texture, black berry fruits, black currant near finish. Ripe fruit use, so some jam fruit. Length prety good. 2010-11."

To put his star ratings into perspective, Jamet's '01 normale gets *** (cask) and their Cote Brune ***** (cask), Jasmin's gets **** and Ogier's normale gets *** while the Belle Helene gets ***** (cask).

HTH
Mark Lipton

Thanks Mark! Useful info!