Here’s a Côte-Rôtie that left me anything but indifferent! Philippe Pacalet.
A little history:
In the 19th century, phylloxera devastated the vineyards of France, including that of Côte-Rôtie. The vines were destroyed and had to be replanted, which took several decades. The region’s winegrowers persevered, however, and managed to bring this vineyard back to life.
In the 20th century, winemakers such as Marius Gentaz and Marcel Guigal — I’ll tell you about him in a future post — helped build the reputation of Côte-Rôtie by producing exceptional wines. Today, the Côte-Rôtie vineyard is considered one of the most prestigious in France and in the world, and the wines produced there are highly prized by connoisseurs.
Back to this Côte-Rôtie by Philippe Pacalet:
It’s a red wine produced in the Rhône Valley wine region, in France. It’s made from Syrah and Viognier grapes, the latter added in small quantity to bring a touch of floral aromas.
Its structure is more complex than it seems. A very welcome and very pleasant length on the palate. A fragrant, typical nose right from opening. The Syrah grapes that make it up aren’t my favourites, but here, I admit it, I’m won over.
It’s elegant, complex and marked by spice — in short, everything I love in a wine. Young or old, you’ll enjoy it at any age!
At a tasting among friends, I was astonished to see it win everyone over. Ladies and gentlemen alike all enjoyed it.
If Côte-Rôtie isn’t to your taste, you’ll also find exceptional Pommard or Nuits-Saint-Georges wines at this house. Philippe Pacalet is a renowned winemaker known for his respectful approach to nature and his commitment to biodynamics. The grapes used for the Côte-Rôtie are grown organically and biodynamically, which means they’re grown without the use of chemicals and using environmentally friendly farming methods.
That said, I’ll grant you its price matches the brew: it will be hard to find below €80 — but it’s a “must-have”!
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