The 2020 Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie La Viaillere is a Syrah from the esteemed Cote Rotie appellation in the Northern Rhone region of France. Produced by Rene Rostaing, this red wine has an alcohol content of 14.5% and is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
Professional reviewers have given this wine high praise, with scores ranging from 97 to 98 points. Jeb Dunnuck of jebdunnuck.com awarded it 97+ points, describing it as "another perfumed, mineral-laced 2020, offering a beautiful nose of darker raspberries, camphor, violets, woodsmoke, and grilled bread." He noted its "huge minerality" and "tight, compact mouthfeel, lots of tannins, and a great finish." Dunnuck advises that this wine would benefit from being cellared for 7-8 years.
Decanter also gave the wine a score of 97 points, highlighting its "beautifully detailed, floral, violet-scented nose" and "totally classic, tender and charming" character. The review praises its medium- to full-bodied profile with "cooling, fresh blackberry fruit" and "super-fine, plentiful but elegant tannins." The wine was aged for four weeks in tank followed by 18 months in oak, with limited new oak usage and natural yeasts.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate provided the highest score of 98 points, noting that the 2020 vintage suffered from frost in the spring of 2021 but still "looks amazing." The review highlighted its "vibrant, intense notes of purple raspberries and violets," describing it as "full-bodied, rich and velvety, with wonderfully fine tannins and a nearly never-ending finish." Reviewer JC emphasized that while La Viallière is not typically a favorite lieu-dit, this vintage is "truly special."
In summary, the 2020 Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie La Viaillere is a highly acclaimed Syrah that stands out for its complex nose, elegant tannins, and exceptional finish. It is a wine that promises to evolve beautifully with age, making it a noteworthy addition to any collection.