2019 Côte-Rôtie, Terrasses, Jean-Luc Jamet, Rhône

The 2019 Cote Rotie Terrasses features scents of mocha, black olives, toast and black cherries on the nose. It's nicely ripe and supple on the medium to full-bodied palate, finishing silky and elegant. It might lack the aromatic fireworks of some Côte Rôties, but it's a fine, down-the-middle example of the appellation.

Just a few steps up the hill and a solid stone wall apart from the old family domaine now home to his brother, Jean-Luc Jamet continues to build and expand his brand-new cellars. As it had been some time since my previous visit, we had some catching up to do, and we went through a few short verticals of the domaine's wines, as well as a quick barrel tasting of the lots destined for the 2020 Cote Rotie Terrasses.

Drink 2023 - 2035

Deep ruby. A mineral- and smoke-tinged bouquet evokes ripe black and blue fruits and liquorice; a floral nuance builds as the wine opens with air. It shows very good energy and spicy lift to its juicy boysenberry and bitter cherry flavours, which are complemented by suggestions of allspice, smoked meat and candied liquorice. It finishes long and taut, with repeating cherry notes, a chewy tannic grip and a jolt of spicy cracked pepper.

Drink 2026 - 2035

The star of the show is the 2019 Côte Rôtie Terrasses, which can thought of as a hypothetical mix of the 2017 and 2018, with perhaps a nod to the 2017. Both red and black fruits, peppery herbs, dried flowers, graphite, and a beautiful sense of minerality define the bulk of the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with fine, building tannins, terrific overall balance, and a great finish. From a vintage that produced ripe, tannic wines, this stays balanced and pure and is loaded with potential.