Cotes du Rhone Equivoque, Domaine Jean-Paul Jamet 2017

Opaque ruby. Incisive aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry, incense and potpourri, with olive and licorice nuances building in the glass. Intense, spice- and mineral-tinged black and blue fruit, olive paste and violet pastille flavors are supported by a core of juicy acidity. Closes very long and suavely floral, showing a smoky mineral quality and smooth tannins that build steadily. The production of this wine, which comes from steeply sloping sites of schist soils just above the Cote Brône, is extremely small. Made with whole clusters and raised in neutral barrels for 22 months. 2022 - 2029

Coming from vines bordering Côte Rôtie, the 2017 Côtes Du Rhône Equivoque tastes just like a Côte Rôtie and has perfumed and complex notes of red and black fruits, green olives, bacon fat, and violets. Readers looking for a gem of a wine that drinks well above its price point should jump on this beauty. It’s medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, and should evolve for 6-7 years.

Still in demi-muid at the time of my visit, the 2017 Cotes du Rhone Equivoque is a blend of two undestemmed parcels. It's medium to full-bodied and dark-fruited, with no obvious stemmy notes. Cassis and blueberries glide silkily across the palate, finishing long and intense.