Cote Rotie 2016

Tasted from 375 milliliters, Jamet's 2016 Cote Rotie is already open and velvety, showing some meaty notes. It's full-bodied, supple and silky, without the bold fruit, raciness and drive of the best years, yet it still delivers plenty of pleasure, from the cassis and blueberry fruit to the savory notes of black olive and espresso and hints of licorice on the long finish. When his brother Jean-Luc Jamet went his own way with half of the family vineyards, Jean-Paul continued working in the existing winery above the town of Ampuis. It's always a treat to visit him there, getting a barrel-tasting tour of Côte Rôtie's numerous lieux-dits. Jean-Paul says 2018 is an excellent year, "very ripe yet with supple tannins and good freshness." He contrasts that to 2017, which he says is "a solar year with surprising elegance." As he sums up, "For me, 2018 is magnificent but perhaps a bit southern. In 2017, you know you're in the Northern Rhône." Jamet describes 2016 as "une belle expression de Syrah—classique." To illustrate his point that warm vintages aren't a threat to Côte Rôtie, Jamet poured a couple of older wines from hot years. Both the 2009 and 1989 Côte Rôties were singing. The '89 he compared to the '18, calling it, "fumé, lardé, épicé." He concluded, "I'm confident in hot vintages, because with time, the terroir emerges."

Score: 94

Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2035 19 December 2019

Tasted, as usual, in components. #1) Les Lezards: bright red fruit, flowers and spices; seamless texture and a zesty mineral overtone that builds with air. #2) Gerine: smoke-accented blue fruits and plush texture; round and weighty with a jolt of pepper adding back-end spiciness and cut. #3) Fontgeant: hugely aromatic, showing intense, mineral-driven medicinal cherry and floral character, a hint of olive and strong back-end thrust. #4) Côte Baudin and Moutonne: deep and rich, showing powerful black and blue fruit qualities and a candied licorice flourish. Plenty of weight here and an intensely spicy back half. #5) Moutonne, Côte Rozier, Côte Blonde and Rochains: sexy, mineral-tinged red and blue fruits and candied flowers on the nose; sweet and seamless in texture, with sneaky tannins adding framework and final grip. #6) Fontgeant, Bonnivière, Tartaras and Leyat: vibrant and sharply focused, showing intense, mineral-tinged blue fruit and floral qualities and an exotic Asian spice overtone; the mineral note dominates with air. #7) Le Plomb: hugely aromatic, displaying red fruit preserve, incense and exotic spice qualities, silky texture and impressive power as well as a delicate finishing touch. #8) La Landonne: wild, expansive dark berry liqueur, olive and licorice qualities and serious heft and breadth; livelier with air, but this is a massive bruiser. The final wine should show Jamet's typical blend of power and finesse and it also looks to be a more brawny wine than many other '16s from the appellation, displaying some of the richness that I associate with the 2015s.

Score: 95 - 97

Josh Raynolds, Vinous.com 01 June 2018