Maison Les Alexandrins   Côte Rôtie Maison Les Alexandrins   Côte Rôtie Macro

Maison Les Alexandrins Côte-Rôtie Rouge - 2015

Description

History has it that vines were planted here centuries ago. Two thousand years ago the Latin authors Martial, Pline l’Ancien, Columelle and Plutarque called the wine from Côte Rôtie “Vin Viennois”.
During the Middle Ages and Renaissance, the reputation of the wines from Ampuis just grew bigger. Before the revolution wines from Côte Rôtie were sent to Royal tables around the world; England, Russia, Prussia and France. The vineyard reached its peak in 1890. Every inch of sunny hillside was planted with vines. At this time, the outbreaks of Phyloxera and other diseases didn’t demotivate the winegrowers. Unfortunately World War One will ruin all their efforts. Over 150 men were sent to war and the vineyards were abandoned. It is only in the sixties that the vineyard was attended again.

Terroir

The vineyard of Côte Rôtie is located on the hills of the right bank of the Rhône river. Some of the slopes exceed 60%. The vineyard is located at an altitude ranging between 180 and 325 metres and is composed of 73 localities.
The main stone is granite covered in places by schist but also sand and calcareous soils.
For the most part, our wine comes from the southern part of the appellation; Côte Blonde and Coteau de Tupin. We wished to make wines with great distinction but also with elegance and finesse rather than wines from the north that tend to be harder and more powerful.

The vintage

For the appellations of the northern Rhone Valley, 2015 was a truly exceptional year, almost without precedent!
After a mild, wet winter and particularly high temperatures in spring, summer brought a heatwave even hotter than 2003. Welcome rain arrived in abundance in mid-August, followed anew by glorious sunshine and a providential wind that guaranteed perfect sanitary conditions and a regular and rapid ripening of the grapes. And so the harvest benefited from optimum conditions during the first two weeks of September.

Location

The vineyard of Côte Rôtie is located on the hills of the right bank of the Rhône riverto the north and south of the village of Ampuis. Some of the slopes exceed 60%. The vineyard is located at an altitude ranging between 180 and 325 metres and is composed of 73 different localities.

Process

The grapes are cold-macerated before being fermented to increase the aromas of fruit. Maceration and fermentation for about 20 days with pumping-over for the first few days followed by punching-down. Ageing in 1-year-old barrels for 15 months.

Varietals

Syrah : 98%
Viognier : 2%

Tasting

This 2015 in Côte-Rôtie stands out among the best. Dense and dark in colour, this wine expresses an intoxicating bouquet of fresh, floral, cold ash, black olive and ripe cherry notes. With a lot of power, a feminine style develops with elegance. The mouth is balanced expressing a pretty structure. Dense and silky tannins, powerful and very aromatic finish.

Serving

Currently this wine needs to be decanted at least an hour before serving.
Drink in it’s youth: Slow roasted lamb will be a great match for this wine.


Reviews


93/100
"A bright, fresh style, with pomegranate, red currant and damson plum fruit coursing through, accented by a mouthwatering mineral edge and backed by light tobacco and bay leaf accents on the finish. Pure and very focused."
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14,5/20
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93/100
"A lighter and elegant redder-fruited expression with a wealth of raspberry, mulberry and peppery fragrant kick. The palate has a very composed, elegant and even-paced flow. Extremely resolved with attractive balance."
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91/100
"A more earthy style with authentic blackberry fruit and a floral lift. The underlying oak works well in support. There is lots to enjoy here: freshness behind the generous ripe fruit, as well as a gentle lick of aniseed and liquorice."
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92/100
"Brilliant ruby. Vibrant cherry and black currant aromas are complemented by black pepper, violet and olive nuances. Taut and structured on entry and then more fleshy in the midpalate, offering fresh dark berry and bitter cherry flavors sweetened by a suave floral pastille accent. Shows very good lift and delineation on the gently tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-dominated persistence."
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92/100
"Clean, classic and downright elegant, it offers terrific notes of black raspberries, spring flowers and hints of cured meats. A quintessential Côte Rôtie, this beauty has no hard edges, integrated acidity and fine tannin, all of which allow it to drink nicely today, yet age for 15 years or more."
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