Rene Rostaing Ampodium Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2015

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

Straight up my wheel house for Old World Syrah.

Conrad Green

Surprisingly reticent given the vintage. It may be a closed-down phase or it may be that it’s their second wine but this is a little muted. Olive, bloody tart dark plum and black cherry fruit. Some dried herbs. Hardly explosive but perhaps worth leaving for a few years to see if it blossoms.

LM Segal

Rich nose of pure charcoal. Body loaded with charred red meat and blackberry jam. Needed an hour but just right then. Great match for a rare steak.

Jonathan Wall

Like the grace and power of a cougar. Beautiful, elegant, silky, and light over a deep dark core. Drinks well now but I'd like to see what other dimensions could develop.

Tom Garrett

WInemaker Detert Family Vineayrds

Iron, grilled meat, dried herbs and brambly berry. Fleshy, textured and very tasty. Delicious, but not as complex or focused as expected for the price.

James Forsyth

Violets. #RebouleduRhone

Matt

Drinking beautifully with a Northern appellation feel to it, more Brune and schistous to me. Would love to know all the lieu dits that contribute and their proportion in the final blend. Its darken fruit profile, meaty/smokey and forest notes make the argument that it’s of northern origin. Its opening up for now there’s a rich stream of dark black fruits reminiscent of Black raspberry liquor, soaked plums, almost prune, and overripe black berry/cherry. There’s still freshness to the fruit however, nothing ox’d or decaying. Singed cedar, leather, ash, roasted meat and animal come next, followed by the garrigue and bacon fat. Threads of eastern spices and of course pepper. It elusive now, the aromas coming and going. Palate has some lovely richness and bones to accompany it well, never pushy, always with restraint and nerve. Reminds me of Barolo. Great “basic” cuvée for Rostaing this vintage. Day 2 this really got going, much more harmony and focus on the nose. Loads of bitter root and pastille notes developing among its dark content. Very delicious

Johnno Harris

Such a baby still. Drank better on day two after opening up. Incredibly tightly woven black fruits with earth, charred meat and black pepper spice revealed with time. Ripe fruit in thrilling tension with fine acid and tannin. Beautiful wine with a long life ahead.

Yasuhiro Nagashima

2018

Ron Siegel

This has developed nicely since last tried that was dark & inky showing a perfumed nose of dark fruits with berry, currant, licorice, mineral, olive & violet.