2018 La Côte Rousse
Syrah
Regular price $470.00Wine Specifications
- Vintage: 2018
- Varietal: 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier
- Appellation: Red Mountain
- Aging: 50% Whole Cluster Inclusion
- Bottling date: June 2020
- Alcohol: 13.9%
- Region: Washington
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Tasting Notes
The 2018 Syrah La Côte Rousse is our second vintage to be “co-fermented” with a small amount of Viognier (6%), a technique used in the Old World to bring aromatic lift and paradoxically vibrant color. Deep, dark purple leads out to brilliant magenta highlights at the edge of the glass. The aromas are intense and exotic; black and red raspberries, apricot and passion fruit nimbly dance with graphite, sandalwood, chamomile, and rose petal. The palate brings intense graphite and dark chocolate with boysenberry and sesame fleshing things out. The finish is lengthy with broad mineral tones and surprising delicacy. We’ve seen La Côte Rousse gain increasing precision and finesse over the last few years and 2018 is no exception. It’s a star of the vintage and will reward short-term cellaring.
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Winemaker notes
The 2018 La Côte Patriarche, per usual, is striking in the glass with its typically dense color; glass-coating and near-black. The aromas remind us where it comes from: warm rocks and graphite, sagebrush, tar, and wood spice join dark fruits, charred red pepper, and violets. The dense palate is full and powerful with an assertive tannic structure. It somehow manages to maintain its freshness, however, and there’s precise, layered flavors of cedar, roasted meat, salted chocolate, and dried nori. The finish lasts for minutes. This can easily handle up to 20 years in the cellar, but with an hour or two decant is showing some absolute magic now.
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Production notes
94% Syrah, 6% Viognier
