- Right Across from Cote Rotie
- Vinified Like Cote Rotie
- Nose - Blind I Thought It Was Cote Rotie
- Best IGP's in The N. Rhone Are In Cote-Rotie
- Incredible Aromatic Complexity
- Palate: Thick, Deep and Vivid Berry Fruit
- Very, Very Intense
- Complex and So, So Stoney
- Structure To Age 10+ Years/$19.99 Case Pricing
It's a haul to get to Côte Rotie from Hermitage. They vineyards are so dramatic, barren, rocky and steep.
The skies are so blue. You're just in awe that vines grow and flourish here. And the vineyards of today's winery, Andre Francois, are in the far North of Cote Rotie.
The father at Andre Francois had a car accident and is still hobbled by it. I politely asked him how he was on my last visit, and he sardonically said, look at me, that's how I am. And laughed. He came all the way down the wet windy cellar stairway in his crutches and tasted in the cellar with us.
His daughter, Nancy, has taken over the winery and has done a masterful job, under her father's watchful eye.
This is what the wines are. The story of struggle, yet with beauty emerging. These are the farthest thing from modern, pumped up Cote Rotie that one could find.
I love these wines and they extraordinarily inexpensive for how incredible they are. The story of the visit is as good as the wines.
In all my visits to the Rhone and subsequent tastings I've come to the conclusion that the best value wines by far are the IGP wines in or around Côte Rotie. Don't get me wrong I love IGP near Hermitage/St. Joseph but the Côte Rotie ones are just higher quality on average. The Jasmin Le Chevaliere and the Champagneaux Remise are great examples as well as the terrific Billon Corendies. All little mini cousins of Côte Rotie. But today's wine, is the best value of them all. $19.99 for a baby Côte Rotie. This is why a $20 wine gets a whole email as the value cannot be beat.
I don't think I've ever done an email solely focused on a wine from the Northern Rhone this inexpensive before. The thing is when I tasted it I had no idea it was this inexpensive. Not even close.
It was given the same elevage treatment as the other wines from a much more prestigious appellation. It comes from an area that resides just outside of Côte Rotie as well. I thought it was a $45-$55 wine. It was clear to me and I had just tasted the other wines that were $45-$55 next to it. When I got the price list and saw how inexpensive this wine was my jaw dropped to the ground. I emailed the driver/translator, Oliane and told her and she could not believe it. She also was shocked the wine was so inexpensive. I'm still slack jawed just thinking about how great the wine is. Okay, so I've teased you enough, so here it is.
The Wine
Today's wine is the 2017 Andre Francois IGP "Quinet" for $21.99 a bottle on a 4-pack and the stupid price of $19.99 on a case. I'm getting a case. Maybe two. The wine is flat out bonkers. Bonkers. The Rhone Red QPR Hill I will die on. The wine is a Côte-Rotie. Except it's not from Côte Rotie (spitting distance away) and it's not priced like Côte Rotie. This is the IGP to end all IGPs.
The nose will drop you in your tracks. It did to this very experienced taster. It's so so sick. Super feral. Super floral. Just mesmerizing aromas that are so, so fragrant. Mulberry. Gamey charcuterie. Some wild boar. Forest scents after a fresh rain. It has incredible lift but also depth, complexity and nuance. The nose full of bloody, sunshine soaked Syrah goodness. Game, blueberry, granite, floral and has such a deep mineral imprint. This smells like Côte Rotie. This is why I thought it was Côte-Rotie. And also it spends 24 months in bottle. It does everything a Côte Rotie does.
The palate is substantial and very, very intense like the best 17s can be. So, so complex and so intense. Powerful and deep with thick, deep and vivid berry fruit. Black and red. Blue as well. Terrific concentration. Awesome. Just amazing fruit. Juicy and complex with terrific freshness and so, so pure. Concentrated and intense with ripe and sweet tannins and wonderful persistent finish. Complex and so stoney. So mineral and so fruity at the same time. Big wine. So succulent and supple. It's really substantial on the palate and has the palate impact of a really great Côte Rotie. So deep. So long. If I had no morals, I'd sell this for $31.99/$29.99 and no one would ever know. It's that great. And I'd not change a word of the email. Just the price. But I'm not that guy. Go crazy, list!
2017 Andre Francois "Quinet" IGP - $23.99
($87.96 4-pack, $239.88 12 Bottle Case {$19.99})
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