Domaine Rostaing, Syrah, Côte Blonde, Côte-Rotie, Northern Rhône, France 2018

The most tannic of the "big three" bottlings this year, the 2018 Côte-Rôtie la Cote Blonde features elegant hints of mixed herbs entwined around bold boysenberry fruit. It's medium to full-bodied, with plentiful fine-grained tannins that firm up on the long finish. Embryonic, but oh so promising, it should blossom in another five years or so.

VINIFICATION
Traditional vinification, including wild yeast fermentation. Stem inclusion and length of maceration depend on the vintage.

AGING
Aged in a mix of 225 and 500 liter barrels (about 7% new).