Blended with 5% Viognier and all from the southern part of the appellation (Maison Rouge, Lancement, Bassenon), the 2022 Côte Rôtie Blonde Du Seigneur brings another level of class and elegance over the Saint Joseph, with ripe black raspberries, smoky bouquet garni, flowers, and hints of game. These carry to a medium to full-bodied Côte Rôtie that has a vibrant, lively mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. It's one classic Côte Rôtie that will evolve for two decades. Drink 2025-2045.

Intense violet, black cherry, red cherry, cedar and a flicker of grapefruit compose the aromatic profile of the 2022 Côte-Rôtie Blonde du Seigneur. Smooth and concentrated, the delightful 2022 is an utterly refined Côte-Rôtie from Christine and Emma Amsellem Vernay. Co-fermented with 5% Viognier and using roughly 5% whole clusters, the 2022 was bottled in July 2024 after maturing for 18 months in a combination of old oak foudres and barriques. Mixing grapes from three lieux-dits (Bassenon, Maison Rouge and Lancement), the 2022 outperforms the 2021 I tasted last year.

A co-fermented blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, the 2022 Cote Rotie Blonde du Seigneur evokes a complex, fresh and elegant bouquet of spices, smoke, violets, roses and dark wild berries mingled with a touch of herbs. Medium to full-bodied, tense and juicy, it's elegant, with a discreet tannic frame, good depth at the core and a tense, energetic mid-palate, leading to a long, saline and mouthwatering finish. Fermented with 10% whole bunches and crafted from vines planted in Coteaux de Semmons, Bassenon and from the young vines from Maison Rouge, this classic, well-crafted and stunning Côte-Rôtie was matured in barrels, of which 10% were new.