Scoring 19 Dionysian point of 20, with 11.5% alcohol, and costing about $12 back then , the 39-year-old Rhone at peaked.
The 1978 E. Guigal Cote-Rotie Cotes Brune et Blonde was soft and round, had a long finish and was perfectly balanced. I think this AOC is the best of the Rhone Valley and with mostly Syrah, it’s a food wine for hearty red meat meals. The Blond and Brunette vineyards are names after the color of the soils the grapes are planted in. The two best.
It had leather, black pepper, spicy hints of raspberry and was well worth the wait.
I usually like my Northern Rhone wines aged between 10 to 20 years, but the 1978 was able to linger on and develop super complex aromas and flavors.
The wine was enjoyed with roasted bits of venison and Italian sausage along with a salad filled with apple and pear slices and lots of different nuts. I drank this case over the years when it was way too young and wish I had a few more bottles for winter meals. In Vino Veritas.
Leave a Reply