2017 La Côte Rousse
97% Syrah, 3% Viognier
Regular price $72.00La Côte Rousse, French for "The Red Slope" combines Syrah from the two founders of Red Mountain; Scott Williams of Kiona Vineyard and Jim Holmes of Ciel Du Cheval Vineyard. In the 1970s these two made a passionate (and many thought absurd) commitment to the untested and inhospitable sagebrush slopes of Red Mountain. Today Red Mountain is justifiably considered to be one of America's most respected allegations, producing long-lived Syrah brimming with fruit essence and richness.
Wine Specifications
- Vintage: 2017
- Varietal: 97% Syrah, 3% Viognier
- Appellation: Red Mountain
- Aging: 35% Concrete Vessel Fermentation. 30% Whole Cluster Inclusion.
- Alcohol: 13.9%
- Region: Washington
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Tasting Notes
The 2017 Syrah La Côte Rousse marks our first time utilizing a traditional technique of co-fermenting small amounts of Viognier (3%) along with the Syrah, the goal being to subtly affect aromatic lift and color vibrancy. And what color! Magnificent, deep, dark purple leads out to an almost impossibly brilliant magenta rim. The aromas are a blend of familiar and exotic; black and red raspberry lead the way for sweet and savory salted plum, chamomile tea and white pepper. Weighty but fresh, the palate adds peat smoke and leather with a hint of cocoa powder filling out the package. The finish is saline, lengthy and broad. This is classic Red Mountain Syrah, with precision, brightness and terrific structure.
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Acclaim
"Moving to the top Syrahs, the 2017 Syrah La Cote Rousse is always 100% Red Mountain fruit (92% from the Ciel du Cheval vineyard) and saw 30% stems and 13 months in French oak. Fabulous notes of bloody blueberries, lavender, dried herbs, and ground pepper as well as tons of minerality emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated, masculine Syrah. Compared to the La Serenne, this cuvée also shows a more savory, mineral, structured profile and benefits from short-term cellaring. It’s going to keep for over a decade." 95+ pts - Jeb Dunnuck
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Winemaker notes
The 2017 La Côte Patriarche is a striking example of the dense color typical of the vintage. It’s glass-coating and near-black starting with incredibly complex and pronounced aromatics. Wet stone and graphite, dark fruits and black olive, crushed espresso bean, violets and tar…there’s something new every time you go back to the glass. The dense, inky palate is rich and silky, but with terrific brightness and pronounced tannic structure. All the weight doesn’t overcome the vibrancy however, and there’s precise focus to layered flavors of cedar, smoked meat and blackberry bramble. The finish doesn’t seem to stop. This has a long life in the cellar ahead but is an absolute joy now.
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Production notes
97% Syrah, 3% Viognier.
