The Stunningly Elegant, Soulful 2010 Henri Gallet - The Rhone Lover's Cote-Rotie

There are wines that you love because they are are obviously perfect ... and then there are wines that
you drink because they have something great and something unique that you can't quite put your finger on, but when you open a bottle, you drink it all and no matter what else is going on, it is a memorable evening.  

I have been drinking Henri Gallet's beautiful Cote-Rotie's since 1998. They are affordable and elegant, finesse-driven wines that show the pretty side of Cote-Rotie and made in a pedal to the medal traditional way.  Every serious Rhone drinker I know loves Gallet yet he has no American importer and the wines are very hard to get. They are aromatic rockstars like only Cotie-Rotie from the southern sector (where the wines are more finesse-driven) can be. So sappy and pure on the palate with all the blood, guts and animal/sauvage you can get from Cote-Rotie. These wines demand age. They can be drunk young with a heavy decant but aging is key for Gallet.

I am proud to offer one of my favorite Cote-Roties ever, the 2010 Domaine Gallet Cote-Rotie for as little as $49.99 (compare at $63) on the 3-pack   (trust me you will want 6-12 of these).  This will age 15-25 years easy and I am probably underestimating.The aromas are crazy as I sit here and type this and remember tasting it. Possible on of the most floral Cote-Rotie's going. So spicey, gamey, meaty, bloody and floral. What a combo!  The Cote-Rotie symphony in full effect. Wines do not get more honest than Henri Gallet. This also has maybe the best label in Cote-Rotie.   Obviously,
2010 is an incredible vintage in the Northern Rhone but to be honest, I'll offer Gallet in any vintage if I can get my hands on it.

These are made in a very traditional manner with the blend being 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier. It is 95% destemmed and is a blend of different plots that are assembled after each is vinified separately. It is aged in 10-15% new oak and 85% 1-10 year old oak.

But this wine cannot be measured in stats and numbers. This is a wine that stirs the soul as no other Cote-Rotie can. This is not the best Cote-Rotie by any means but besides Jamet and maybe Levet, I challenge you to find one as soul-stirring and emotional as Gallet's. He is remarkably consistent and one should support traditional old school winemakers especially in a region like Cote-Rotie which is becoming frighteningly modern. I have many wines at Fass Selections that would qualify as honestly made soul-stirring wines. Martin Muellen and Thierry Richoux come to mind. These fit in perfectly with those producers.

2010 Henri Gallet Cote-Rotie - $52.99 ($149.97 3-pack)