Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie La Landonne 2021 (750ML)

94 DE / 93 JD / 17.5 JR

Graphite, iron and pencil lead come before the blackberry fruit here – a very mineral aromatic expression, almost austere. Medium-bodied but with good presence on the palate and some sweetness to the berry fruits. A compact, dry and mineral expression. La Landonne is always strict, but this really is austere. The whole-bunch element is marked, and the tannins are fine and plentiful but very tense and dry. This needs a long time, don't drink it too young. The only single-vineyard bottlings in 2021 will be La Landonne and Côte Blonde - and that's if they are not eventually blended into Ampodium.-Matt Walls, Decanter

The 2021 Côte Rôtie La Landonne is a solid step up and has a medium-bodied, fresh, focused style as well as textbook La Landonne notes of smoky black fruits, ground pepper, and some meaty notes, as well as a beautiful rose petal-like character in the background. It's balanced and has fine tannins and outstanding length. Give bottles just 2-3 years and enjoy over the following decade. I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for longer, but I also don't see a need to delay gratification.-Jeb Dunnuck

Cask sample. Bright, juicy nose, a little spicy – white pepper, plums and spice. Very fine tannins. Saline. Good density of fruit as well and a savoury, leafy note on the finish. Refined, restrained but still with a tight structure. Long, and will provide so much pleasure in a light style.-Alistair Cooper, JancisRobinson