1999 Joseph Jamet Cote Rotie Cote Rotie

1999 Joseph Jamet Cote Rotie

97 RP

Featured Review

One of the all-time greats from this estate is the still inky colored 1999 Cote Rotie. From a hot year that had many vignerons struggling with vinification issues, Jean-Paul compared 1999 to 2009 more than once. Sensationally rich, concentrated and full-bodied, it reveals a classic bouquet of pepper, smoked herbs, black currants and licorice. One sexy Cote Rotie that's just hard to resist, it's drinking perfectly today but will evolve nicely for another decade or more. Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Robert Parker | 97 RP

This hasn't moved much from when I tasted it in a horizontal of 1999 Côte-Rôtie 18 months ago. A textbook Jamet, with loads of macerated fig, currant and blackberry fruit flavors laid over a riveting minerally edge and a long finish filled with sanguine, hoisin sauce and incense notes. Showing beautifully.--Non-blind Jamet Côte-Rôtie vertical (2010). Drink now through 2018. 1,665 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 95 WS

Component #1, mostly from 12-year-old vines in Chavaroche: Medium ruby. Musky aromas of black raspberry, coffee grounds, pepper, bacon fat and gunflint. Juicy and peppery, but with modest flesh and depth. #2 (mostly Fontgent): More saturated medium ruby. Riper but inexpressive aromas of chicory, animal fur, mocha and pepper. Denser in the mouth; reasonably fresh yet lacks treble notes. A sample of the same juice from a younger barrique showed more vivacity, with the tannins of the wood giving the wine fresher aromas and firmer shape. #3 (Chavaroche and Moutonne): Bright deep ruby. Aromatic, perfumed aromas of black raspberry, hickory smoke, black licorice and game. Sweet, chewy and bright; a step up in intensity. Perhaps not as dense as the #2, but more expressive today. Strong, palate-staining finish belies the wine high pH. #4 (from browner soils): Bright ruby-purple color. Spicy aromas of black cherry, chocolate, mocha and iron. Dense and dark chocolatey in the mouth, with less fruity high tones than #3. Finishes with big, chewy tannins. This lot will provide much of the structural underpinning of the blend. #5 (Mornachon and Landonne; mostly in barriques since the outset): Full ruby. Rich, briary, Morey-Saint-Denis-like aromas of musky black fruits, bitter chocolate and game. Very closed on entry, but intensely flavored, rich and peppery; dense but sharply delineated. The most complex of these components today. Also the longest on the aftertaste, with the substantial tannins reaching the front teeth. A hypothetical blend of the five components in roughly equal proportion: Bright dark ruby. Very complex and aromatic nose of black raspberry, black cherry, woodsmoke, roast coffee, bitter chocolate and animal fur. Dense, highly concentrated and nuanced, with notes of game, leather and fresh blood. Cote-Rotie in all its rustic glory, which is to say that this wine is downright suave, even elegant. Finishes with firm tannins and terrific lift. Should make a great bottle. The finished wine will be no more than about 13% alcohol, notes Jamet.

Vinous Media | 94 VM

Type of Wine	Cote Rotie : The Cote-Rotie will have you feeling a distinct blend of smoked meat flavors and floral notes that bring it all to life, like a colorful salad in a feast. Expect to be greeted by subtle yet delicious hints of leather, plum, white pepper or black pepper as well, depending on the individual bottle.
Varietal	Shiraz/Syrah : Something magical occurred when two ancient French grapes procreated and the varietal of Syrah entered the world of winegrowing. The exact time period of its inception is still undetermined; however, the origin of Syrah’s parentage confirms it was birthed in the Rhone Valley. DNA testing performed by UC Davis has indicated that Syrah is the progeny of the varietals Dureza and Mondeuse Blanche, both of Rhone origin. Syrah dominates its native homeland of Northern Rhone and has become one of the most popular grape varietals in the world. Syrah, Shiraz and Petite Sirah have often been confused and misunderstood, some consumers believing them to all be the same grape, while others thinking the opposite. Petite Sirah is actually the offspring of Syrah and Peloursin and though related, is an entirely different grape variety. Its official name is Durif, for the name of the French nurseryman who first propagated the varietal in the 1880s; it is called Petite Sirah in California (due to the resemblance of Syrah, but smaller berries). Syrah and Shiraz are the same grape. Producers in Australia have been labelling Syrah as “Shiraz” since James Busby first introduced the varietal to the continent. The Scottish viticulturist brought Syrah from France to Australia in the middle of the 18th century and labelled the cuttings as “Sycras” and “Ciras,” which may have led to the naming. Most California vintners label their bottlings as Syrah and of course in French style and tradition, the name of the village or area the grape is cultivated dictates the label name. The Syrah grape is at home in Northern Rhone where the climate is cool and the terroir is filled with gravel, schist, limestone, iron, granite and sandy soils. It thrives on rocky, hilly terrain with a southern exposure, due to its need for sunlight. Syrah is a very vigorous grape with a spreading growth habit. The berries are small to medium oval shaped blue-black and tend to shrivel when ripe. Today, Syrah is one of the most popular and widely planted grape varietals in the world, covering almost 190,000 hectares across the earth’s surface. It is the only red grape variety permitted by AOC regulations in the appellations of Hermitage and Cote-Rotie, where it has breathed life into some of the most tremendous wines on the planet. Languedoc-Roussilon has the most surface area planted in France with 43,200 hectares dedicated to Syrah. The varietal is used for blending in Southern Rhone, Provence and even Bordeaux. Syrah has spread worldwide from Australia to California and South Africa to Spain creating the ‘New World’ hype of the varietal. Since the 1990’s, Syrah winegrowing and production has increased exponentially; for example, in 1958 there were a mere 2,000 hectares planted in France. By 2005 that number increased to over 68,000 hectares and today it is well over 70,000. The same holds true for California, Australia and other ‘New World’ producers that have jumped “all in.” World-wide there are approximately 190,000 hectares of Syrah currently being cultivated. The allure of Syrah has taken the world by storm, but is important to note where the hype began. Long before Syrah was being stamped with ‘New World’ or of ‘cult status,’ the tremendous quality of Hermitage was being written about in Thomas Jefferson’s diary. Today, the grape variety can be grown, fashioned, named and enjoyed in a myriad of ways, but the quality of Syrah grape remains the same – incredible.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region	Rhone : While the Northern Rhone produces only about 5% of all wine coming out of the Rhone Valley, the quality of these bottles is not to be underestimated. The terroir in this region is heavenly for growing Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne or Rousanne - the only permitted grapes in the AOC. Picture this - the Rhone flows through the valley like an azure thread piercing the landscape, a reflection of the dreamy skies hovering above the vineyards, ready to produce rainfall at a moment's notice. The rocky soil of the steep, almost surreal hillsides provides a bountiful feast for the grapevine roots. The flavors and texture of Northern Rhone wines tell you everything you need to know as soon as your lips touch the elixir, like a whisper in the vigorous valley winds As per the Southern Rhone wine, it is like taking a plunge into a whirlpool of juicy flavor. Every sip explodes forward like a crashing tsunami, bathing your tastebuds in delicious aromas of prune, chocolate, grass, and black fruit. The wines are so compelling that it can be hard to drink them casually at a social event without getting lost in their intricate textures and emotional depths. Let's set sail together, and drink deep from these luxurious bottles with our friends and loved ones.