Côte-Rôtie 2019: Report and top scoring wines
Matt Walls found the overall quality of Côte-Rôtie 2019 wines to be very high, and where the alcohols were in check, there are plenty of deliciously deep and unctuous wines to choose from.
At Domaine JP Jamet they prefer the 2019 to the 2018 thanks to its freshness and balance.
Jean-Paul Jamet says this is partly thanks to four small rainfalls of around 30mm between 20th July and 20th August which blessed them with larger yields and a more steady, regular ripening.
‘You hope for a few vintages like this in your life,’ he says, describing the vintage as ‘magical’.
Scroll down to see Matt’s top Côte-Rôtie 2019 tasting notes and scores
Pierre Rostaing reports temperatures hitting 40 ̊ C in Côte-Rôtie, but he didn’t experience any berry damage as a result. ‘Hot years trouble me a bit,’ he says, ‘but we had grapes that were ripe and clean.’ He compares the vintage to 2017, albeit with more extreme weather.
The overall quality in Côte-Rôtie is high, in a very ripe style.
Acidity levels do tend to be good however, and where alcohols are in check, there are plenty of deliciously deep and unctuous wines to choose from.
On tasting, wines from schistous soils (northern Côte Brune side) showed markedly better than those from gneiss (southern Côte Blonde side). Philippe Guigal believes ‘the wines have a great capacity to age in 2019.’
Quick links Northern Rhone
Individual appellation analysis and top-scoring wines
Condrieu and Château-Grillet
Saint-Joseph
Key producers in 2019
Domaine Benjamin et David Duclaux
Domaine Christophe Billon
Domaine François et Fils
Domaine Jamet
Domaine Rostaing
Domaine Stéphane Ogier
E. Guigal
Value picks
Domaine Chambeyron Côte-Rôtie ‘L’Angeline’ 2019
Domaine Christophe Billon Côte-Rôtie ‘Les Elotins’ 2019
Domaine Lionel Faury Côte-Rôtie ‘Reviniscence’ 2019
Pierre Gaillard Côte-Rôtie 2019
Domaine Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie ‘Mon Village’ 2019
See Matt’s top Côte-Rôtie 2019 tasting notes and scores
See also
Rhône 2019 En Primeur: Full report plus top scoring winesNorthern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring winesSouthern Rhône 2019 report plus top scoring wines
Domaine Jamet, Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
You hope for a few vintages like this in your life, says Jean-Paul Jamet. This is Domaine Jamet's only single-vineyard bottling, made every year. ...
2019
Domaine JametCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Jamet, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Jean-Paul Jamet said '2019 gave wines in the style that I like to make'. A step up from the 2018 vintage, the 2019 is...
2019
Domaine JametCôte-Rôtie
Delas Frères, La Landonne, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Immediately this has the darkness and aromatic austerity of La Landonne. Very full-bodied, expansive on the palate with mouthcoating flavour and tannin but not heavy....
2019
Delas FrèresCôte-Rôtie
E Guigal, La Landonne, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Dark, opaque colour. This has that closed, dark austerity you would expect. Gently sweet with a touch of Lapsang Souchong tea in the background -...
2019
E GuigalCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, La Côte Blonde, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Lifted pink peppercorns here - a spicy and floral aromatic display. Medium-to-full bodied, far from massive with exceptional tannic elegance, huge length and a touch...
2019
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, La Viallière, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
So round and charming - great elegance here with plentiful tannins but so fine, this really is special. It has great finesse and silky length,...
2019
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
E Guigal, La Turque, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Highly spicy, with attractive star anise and cinnamon notes to the black fruits. Velvety on the palate, but this has serious structure. It feels embryonic...
2019
E GuigalCôte-Rôtie
Benjamin & David Duclaux, Coteau de Tupin, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
A distinctly herbal style of Côte-Rôtie. Medium-bodied, very fresh, with a vibrant palate shot through with sappy acidity. Tannins are robust, ripe, gently fibrous but...
2019
Benjamin & David DuclauxCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Rostaing, La Viallière, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Stylish, floral nose, partly from the whole bunch, party from the site. Very pure, gentle and velvety with dark fruit and tight tannins. Good acidity,...
2019
Domaine RostaingCôte-Rôtie
Domaine Rostaing, Côte Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Has the deep red rose aroma that characterises this plot, peppery with a soft, velvety palate - this is gentle and welcoming. Acidity slightly lower...
2019
Domaine RostaingCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Lancement, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
A compelling blend of spice, smoke and florality. Full-bodied, but not overly fat or alcoholic. Has the lift and precision you would hope for, lovely...
2019
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Stéphane Ogier, Côte Bodin, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Very floral character, gentle with a lovely acidity. This has imperceptibly fine tannins and an amazing floral lift, very Côte Blonde in spirit, even if...
2019
Stéphane OgierCôte-Rôtie
Pierre Gaillard, Esprit de Blonde, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Incredible, soaring, perfumed fragrance, violets, incense and star anise. Fresh and pure on the palate, with fine tannins and a little sappy, balsamic back note...
2019
Pierre GaillardCôte-Rôtie
Benjamin & David Duclaux, Maison Rouge, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Deeply coloured. Intense and open on the nose, with darker fruit character than the 2020. Spicier in style, with smoky juniper notes. Full in body,...
2019
Benjamin & David DuclauxCôte-Rôtie
Christophe & Maryline Billon, Côte-Rozier, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
A touch of soy, and some rooty bitters on the nose. A full-bodied, lush and generous palate with tangy acidity. Strongly rooted tannins weave through...
2019
Christophe & Maryline BillonCôte-Rôtie
François & Fils, Rochins, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Beautiful sappy, balsamic aromas - thyme and lavender through the fresh blackberry fruit. Soft and yielding on the palate with pliable ripe tannins. Good acidity...
2019
François & FilsCôte-Rôtie
François & Fils, Rozier, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Violets, lavender and thyme. Not overly full-bodied, more tight in character than some Côte-Rôties this year. Great tannic finesse, sweet and gently succulent, with good...
2019
François & FilsCôte-Rôtie
Vignobles Chirat, Rose Brune, Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France, 2019
Very driving, muscular tannins here, a schistous style on the palate. Closed for now, but still showing its freshness and power. Not overworked, it's tremendously...
2019
Vignobles ChiratCôte-Rôtie
