2019 Domaine Jamet Cote-Rotie Rhone Red

2019 Domaine Jamet Cote-Rotie

98 DEC

Featured Review

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 more vibrant and intense. A blend of 25 parcels, amounting to 17ha, almost exclusively on schist soils. No destemming. A tasting of nine different barrels across a variety of lieux-dits suggest that the 2019 Côte-Rôtie is very special indeed. This is vibrant and intense, but not as sunny as the 2018 in style - sugars and phenolics progressed at the same gradual rate in 2019, making for a more harmonious and balanced wine. You feel the hot vintage in the wine, but it's represented more as power and intensity than hot alcohol. Vivid and highly impressive. Drinking Window 2022 - 2045. Decanter

Decanter | 98 DEC

Schedule to be bottled shortly after my visit, the 2019 Côte Rôtie has gorgeous, floral nuances that give way to more peppery, meaty, gamey notes that are the hallmark of this wonderful estate. Medium to full-bodied, it has considerable elegance and finesse on the palate (Jean-Paul compares this to his 2001 and 2007), silky tannins, and a beautiful finish. It’s going to have some up-front appeal as well as a broad drink window.

Jeb Dunnuck | 95-98 JD

(Domaine Jean-paul, Corinne & Loïc Jamet Côte-rôtie Red) A complex, assertively perfumed bouquet evokes smoky, mineral-accented blackberry, cherry, olive, violet candy and cracked pepper. Sweet, focused and penetrating on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit, floral pastille and cola flavors that steadily flesh out with aeration. The smoke and floral notes come back emphatically on a strikingly long, smooth finish that's given shape by fine-grained, slowly mounting tannins.

Vinous Media | 94-96 VM

I tasted the final blend of the 2019 Cote Rotie from tank, where it was awaiting bottling. It retains the essential elegance and complexity that typifies Jamet's Cote Rotie despite the warm summer; floral nuances combine with hints of wood ash and purple raspberries on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is velvety in texture and the flavors linger on the finish. It strikes me as being a touch less impressive than other recent vintages, but perhaps it will bounce back after bottling.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92-94 RP

Type of Wine	Rhone Red
Varietal	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.

Producer	Jamet : Driving from the village of Ampuis in Northern Rhone towards the hills; a four kilometer drive that allows you to appreciate the steep slopes of the Cote-Rotie landscape. Domaine Jamet comes into view, sitting atop the “Le Vallin” plateau. This wonderful spectacle enables travelers to understand the natural landscape and hilly terrain that gives Cote-Rotie its tremendous terroir. From this plateau there are remarkable views of Mont Blanc and the Alps, weather permitting. Sweeping hillsides rich with granite, rocks, schist, iron, clay and limestone influenced soils are perfectly attuned for the varietals grown on the property. Jamet has 8.5 hectares in Cote-Rotie, some of which are his greatest holdings, located in the small lieu-dits of Cote Brune, in the Les Montennes, Rochains, Fongeat, Chavaroche and La Landonne vineyards. Over the years, he has expanded his holdings in Cotes-Du-Rhone, Condrieu and various locations in the Rhone Valley. Syrah is the primary grape for his domaine Cote-Roties but has expanded his portfolio persistently, which now includes Cotes-Du-Rhone varietals such as Grenache, Mourvedre, Cinsault, and Carignan; as well as the introduction of white grape varieties of Viognier and Condrieu. His top flight of wines is his Cote-Rotie, Cote-Rotie Cote Brune, and Cote–Rotie La Landonne. These are highly sought-after and quite limited. Upon entering the domaine, storehouse and cellar, it’s clear to see that nature and simplicity seem to be the Jamet family axiom. This is where Jean-Paul, his wife Corinne and elder son, Loic cultivate vine and wine with true passion. Jamet respects the terroir, respects nature and the natural landscape of Cote-Rotie which lend to the success of their domaine. That success is the result of working with the terroir and the human nurturing of Jean-Paul. The vines of Jamet grow on steep hillsides and set out on terraces in what are commonly called “chayets.” The vines evolve on a sub soil mainly composed of schist and granite. The rocky, hilly slopes allow optimum drainage, helping to increase the health and vitality of the vines. In view of the exceptional nature of the land, it is essential for Jean-Paul Jamet and his family to respect this heritage always. This is an imperative mindset for Jean-Paul who began working alongside his father in 1976 and has since maintained loyal and devoted to his father’s legacy. Jamet has always produced wines in which balance, style and real fruit flavors are key elements. He is able to produce what could be considered the best wines form the Rhone Valley thanks to its plots of old wines (some of which were planted in 1940) and very diverse terroirs facing all sides and vinification made from whole clusters. Again, it is Jean-Paul’s remarkable respect for nature, his commitment to the success of his domaine and his great vision and understanding of the harmony needed between the natural elements and human intervention. This is an outstanding family operation and will continue to be, as their elder son Loic is becoming more involved. Loic assisted his father in acquiring holdings in Condrieu and helped him to produce its first bottling in 2015.