1998 Cote Rotie

The late Robert Jasmin's 1998 Cote Rotie offers both finesse and concentration. In 1998, about one-third of the crop was lost due to a frost in late June, which has resulted in a finesse-filled, concentrated wine with Burgundian-like complexity and nuances. Aromas of black cherries, raspberries, and flowers emerge from this dark ruby-colored wine. In the mouth, it tastes like a grand cru from the Cotes de Beaune, exhibiting abundant quantities of black fruits, an underlying minerality, exceptional elegance, and good acidity. The oak is not obtrusive, and the fruit and delicacy dominate. Aged in both barrels and demi-muids, it should last for 10-15 years. At the urging of his son, Patrick, the wine was totally destemmed. For the benefit of consumers, Patrick now does only two bottlings, as opposed to the multiple bottlings his father practiced. Importers: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel (510) 524-1524, and Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173