Maison Les Alexandrins   Côte Rôtie Maison Les Alexandrins   Côte Rôtie Macro

Maison Les Alexandrins Côte-Rôtie Rouge - 2017

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

After the historically dry and hot summer, the wines give an impression of opulence, concentration and generosity. Ageing will allow the wines to soften and slowly find their balance.

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

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

Black, delicate aromas of cold ash, black flesh fruit (blackberries, blackcurrant, black olive). Elegant mouth, balance between freshness and power, beautiful mineral tension that gives a great personality to this 2017 vintage. The finish is long and aromatic (notes of violet and liquorice).

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


96/100
"Concentrated and elegant, this is made from the Les Roziers vineyard in Côte-Rôtie, where schist soils give a flinty, rosehip edge to the wine. Fine-grained tannins accompany powerful and intense notes of liquorice and cassis, with some white pepper spice. This is silky, tender and finely worked - a brilliant example of what Côte-Rôtie can do, proving itself to be one of the most exciting appellations in France. It will be bottled towards the end of 2018 and I can’t wait to try it again in a few years."
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91-93/100
"A solid négociant effort, the 2017 Côte Rôtie Maison Les Alexandrins offers mocha and black olive aromas and flavors, a ripe, supple—almost lush—texture and a long, vibrant finish. It should drink well for at least 6-7 years."
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91-93/100
"The 2017 Côte Rôtie (98% Syrah and 2% Viognier) is a beautiful wine from this estate. Blackberries, toasted spices, spring flowers, and hints of minerality all flow to a ripe, sexy wine that has plenty of fruit, sweet tannins, and a great finish. It’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate yet evolve for 10-15 years."
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94/100
"This sports a slightly brawny edge, with steeped black currant and dark plum compote notes, infused liberally with bay leaf, savory and tobacco details and picking up pepper, singed alder and warm cast iron accents on the finish. Shows lots of range and character. Best from 2022 through 2038."
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92/100
"A attractively spicy and complex young wine that offers super fragrant dark cherries on the nose. Chocolate and dark-plum flavors build on the palate. Holds round, fresh and upbeat, on a fine-tannin finish. Drink or hold."
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94/100
"Whispers of smoke and bacon fat mingle into ripe but elegantly restrained cassis and black plum on the nose of this finessed Syrah. In its youth, it’s vibrantly fruity, edged by an exhilarating vein of acidity and lingering hints of black pepper. Approachable already for its fine, feathery tannins, the wine should gain earthier complexity and perfume well through 2035."
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92/100
"Deep, shimmering ruby. Smoke- and mineral-accented cherry and dark berry aromas pick up baking spice, licorice and olive nuances as the wine opens up. Appealingly sweet and juicy in style, offering pliant blackberry and cherry cola flavors that show very good depth and a touch of bitter chocolate. Finishes very long and supple, with even tannins coming in late to frame lingering cherry and cracked pepper notes."
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