Côte Rôtie Côte Brune, Domaine Jean-Paul Jamet 2023

The 2023 Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune stands as a pinnacle of the vintage. Imagine the juiciest blood orange, seamlessly intertwined with the delicate fragrance of violets, ripe black cherry and the mineral complexity of graphite, all elevated by a whisper of black pepper. A hint of mint adds a refreshingly herbal lift. On the palate, the 2023 radiates stunning verticality, its finesse expanding outward to fill every corner of the mouth. The finish is long, floral-driven and laser-focused, leaving an indelible impression of profound elegance. The 2023 Côte Brune is a triumph in every sense. (Drink between 2027-2038)

Incredibly floral and exotic (which is the MO for this cuvée), the 2023 Côte Rôtie Côte Brune reveals rose petal, potpourri, and almost peach-like nuances (it's 100% Syrah) in its aromatics. It's medium to full-bodied, very fresh and focused on the palate, with fine tannins and beautiful purity. This utterly classic expression of the Côte Brune will be loved by the traditionalists out there (and that includes me).One of the benchmark estates for traditionally made Côte Rôtie, Domaine Jamet is today run by Jean-Paul Jamet alongside his son Loïc, with the support of Jean-Paul's wife Corinne and daughter Fanny. Located high above the appellation near the village of Le Vallin, the estate farms 25 parcels spread across 17 lieux-dits, with the majority of the holdings in the schist-dominated Côte Brune side of the appellation, including Chavaroche, Le Truchet, Les Moutonnes, Rochins, Fongeant, and La Landonne, as well as prime parcels in the Côte Blonde sector such as Lancement. Winemaking here is classic yet not dogmatic, with a strong preference for whole cluster fermentation with adjustments based on the vintage. The wines are aged primarily in older demi-muids, with 15-30% new oak, and are bottled unfined and unfiltered after about two years. While the flagship Côte Rôtie remains a blend of their numerous parcels, a small-production Côte Brune cuvée was introduced in 2015. While it would be easy to assume the Côte Brune bottling is a richer, more powerful wine, it is often a more perfumed, floral, and elegant expression compared to the classic cuvée. Jean-Paul has commented that while the recent vintages of 2018, 2019, and 2020 bordered on excessive in style, he was thrilled with the 2022s, which mark a return to more stylistically classic ripeness levels and balance.