The Story
Old-school Cote-Rotie from one of Ampuis' most uncompromising traditional houses, just entering its stride. Bernard Levet, now joined by daughter Agnes, makes Cote-Rotie the long way: whole-cluster, long macerations, large old foudre, and little to no Viognier co-fermentation. La Peroline draws Syrah from old-vine parcels on the iron-rich, schist-and-mica soils of the Cote Brune, the more masculine half of the hill. The 2016 vintage was a benchmark in the Northern Rhone, classical, structured, and built for the long haul. At nearly a decade in bottle, this is just beginning to unwind, dark fruit cut with smoked meat, olive, and crushed violet. Drink now with air, or cellar another fifteen-plus years.
Description
Old-school Cote-Rotie from one of Ampuis' most uncompromising traditional houses, just entering its stride. Bernard Levet, now joined by daughter Agnes, makes Cote-Rotie the long way: whole-cluster, long macerations, large old foudre, and little to no Viognier co-fermentation. La Peroline draws Syrah from old-vine parcels on the iron-rich, schist-and-mica soils of the Cote Brune, the more masculine half of the hill. The 2016 vintage was a benchmark in the Northern Rhone, classical, structured, and built for the long haul. At nearly a decade in bottle, this is just beginning to unwind, dark fruit cut with smoked meat, olive, and crushed violet. Drink now with air, or cellar another fifteen-plus years.
