The 2018 Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie is a Syrah originating from the esteemed Northern Rhone region of France. This wine stands out due to its exceptional reviews, consistently scoring in the mid to high 90s from several prestigious wine reviewers.
Decanter awarded this vintage a score of 96, describing it as “liqueur-fruited, incredibly dense and opulent.” They noted its high alcohol content and dark fruit profile, underscored by “big, slightly blocky and tight tannins.” Decanter emphasized its rich, warming, and generous style, indicative of a “solaire vintage.”
Jeb Dunnuck, who sampled multiple barrels of this wine, gave it an impressive score range of 95-97 points. Dunnuck highlighted its inky colors, beautiful purity of fruit, and classic Jamet style and complexity. He remarked on the wine’s “building tannins” and suggested that it may be reminiscent of the 1999 vintage. Dunnuck recommended 5-7 years of bottle aging for optimal enjoyment.
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate also praised this wine, giving it a score range of 94-96 points. The reviewer tasted eight different lots, with scores ranging from 92-94 to 95-97 points. They described the wine as very ripe with supple tannins and adequate freshness. Notable tasting notes included “violets, hickory smoke, black olives, and cassis.” The reviewer projected that the wine would firm up with aging and has the potential for two decades or more of cellaring.
Vinous gave the 2018 Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie a near-perfect score of 95-96 points. They highlighted its “precise aromas of dark berry preserves, pungent flowers, pipe tobacco, and smoky minerals.” The palate was described as “broad, alluringly sweet, and youthfully chewy,” with intense flavors of blackberry, cherry preserve, fruitcake, and bitter chocolate. Vinous noted the wine's “compelling interplay of power and energy” and its “strikingly long” finish with lingering floral and mineral notes.
Overall, the 2018 Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie is a highly acclaimed Syrah, celebrated for its richness, complexity, and aging potential.
