2012 Domaine Barge Cote-Rotie Cote-Brune (ex-domaine 2015)

“The 2012 Côte Brune from Gilles and Julien Barge is a great young example of Côte-Rôtie, offering up a more reserved and deeper aromatic profile than either of the estate’s other two bottlings in this vintage. The first class nose offers up a classic blend of cassis, dark berry, black olive, venison, beautifully complex minerality, still a notable touch of stems and a topnote of woodsmoke. On the palate the wine is deep, pure, full-bodied and nascently complex, with a rock solid core, outstanding transparency and superb cut and grip on the focused and ripely tannic finish. This is going to be one of the top examples of Côte-Rôtie from the 2012 vintage, but it will need more time in the cellar to show all of its layers of complexity. 2023-2060.”

“… dark colour. Broad, grilled aroma … an inlay of dark red fruit … smoke ... this is grounded, traditional Côte Rôtie ... red meat droplets come through late on, a wine that keeps its foot down on the pedal. Has ways to go, trails to cross and cover.”