The Rhone Report #8

Made by Sean Boyd, these wines are classic renditions that show true varietal character, as well as structured, age-worthy, and dense personalities. Having said that, the 2009 reds here were straight up tight and unyielding, showing masculine, very firm profiles. I followed the bottles over multiple days and they never lost that slightly sever edge, hence the question mark and + notations on some of the scores. However, I do think these will flesh out and be even better than the scores suggest with a year or two in bottle. Time will tell.

2009 Rôtie Cellars Southern White: 91 Points

A blend of 50% Viognier, 30% Roussanne, and 20% Marsanne, the 2009 Rôtie Cellars Southern White is an outstanding wine that delivers fresh, perfumed aromatics of juicy peach and assorted stone fruits, white flowers, and solid minerality and wet stone like nuances that show more on the palate and finish. Medium bodied and with solid ripeness and texture that‟s buffered by juicy acidity and focus on the finish, this is a top-notch effort that will stand up to anything coming out of the Rhône valley. This actually showed best on the day after opening, and can handle a decant if drinking over the near term. It should drink well for 3-5 years; however, I think it will be at its best over the coming year or two. (91 pts.)

2009 Rôtie Cellars Grenache "little g": 94 Points

The 2009 Rôtie Cellars Grenache "little g" is 100% Grenache that comes all from the Gunkel Orchards Block that lies just off the Columbia river. The wine has an utterly captivating bouquet of wild strawberry and cherry pit that's supported by sweet garriuge, saddle leather, and touches of white pepper on the nose. Beautifully perfumed, and with an elegant, almost delicate aromatic profile, the wine is medium bodied on the palate and carries perfectly ripe fruit, juicy acidity, and a savory, clean and very well focused finish. I'm a big fan and this is a singular Grenache from Washington State. Bottles should benefit from 2-4 years in the cellar, and drink well for 12-15 years. A fantastic wine and not to be missed!

2009 Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend: 91+? Points

A blend of 95% Syrah and 5% co-fermented Viognier, the 2009 Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend possesses a slightly austere edge as well as more obvious minerality than the ‟08. On the nose it shows earthy blackberry and raspberry driven aromatics to go with a solid core of minerality and chalky notes. Additional nuances of chocolate, smoked meats, and violets develop with air and as a whole, this is still very young and tight. Medium bodied and focused on the palate, this shows more focus and edge to both the acid and tannin than the ‟08, and where the prior vintage is ready to go, I would give these 2-4 years in the cellars to let the tannin soften and the mid-palate fill in. Certainly impressive, and I like that the structure and acidity are prominent, but this does have a slightly lean profile that gives me pause.

2008 Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend: 92 Points

With more fruit than the ‟09, and possibly even better than the ‟07, the 2008 Rôtie Cellars Northern Blend is a blend of 97% Syrah that co-fermented with 3% Viognier. The wine sports a deep purple color to go with top notch aromas of blackberries, leafy tobacco, violets, and smoked meats on the nose. While there‟s plenty of fruit, this also has solid complexity and picks up a subtle tapenade and black pepper streak with additional airtime. Very pure on the nose, it's medium to full bodied on the palate with a round, fleshy texture, good density through the mid-palate, and a long finish. I think this will be more interesting in a year or two, and should have a conservative 8-10 year drink window.

2009 Rôtie Cellars Southern Blend: 92+? Points

More textbook and classically styled than the more exotic ‟08, the 2009 Rôtie Cellars Southern Blend is a blend of 58% Grenache, 16% Syrah, and 16% Mourvedre, and displays beautifully pure, focused aromatics of kirsch and raspberry fruits, fresh flowers, sappy underbrush, and mineral on the nose. Medium bodied and well balanced on the palate, with a grippy, savory texture, vibrant acidity, and a long, completely dry finish, this doesn‟t have much baby fat, but I do like the structure and focus on the palate. I think this needs 2-3 years of bottle age, and should have a solid decade or more of prime drinking, but this is a wine to check back in on at age 4 or 5 to see how it's developing.

2008 Rôtie Cellars Southern Blend:  91 Points

A blend of 70% Grenache and the rest an even split of Grenache and Mourvedre, age all in older French oak, the 2008 Rôtie Cellars Southern Blend has deep, slightly exotic aromatic profile of black cherry and peach pit to go with undertones of black licorice, flower oil, and underbrush. This is followed by a round, fleshy, and balanced wine that carries ripe fruit, good acidity, and plenty of mouth filling texture into a chocolate, mineral-laced finish. Holding up beautifully with air, this outstanding red should drink well for 8-10 years.

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