$340.00
| /
The charismatic Rose Pourpre (Purple Rose) comes from a particularly steep, one-hectare parcel of 40-year-old vines in the lieu-dit of Côte Rozier. It’s a warm, amphitheatre-shaped site situated just under the famous La Landonne, at the heart of the Côte Brune. Here there are numerous stone walls, well known for their ability to retain heat. This magnifies the site’s sunny microclimate and is one of the keys to understanding the depth and structure of the wines that come from this terroir.
Harvesting was done by hand and the fruit was all de-stemmed before crushing. It was aged for 18 months in Allier and Nevers barrels. These barrels were all new and yet this powerhouse of a wine has soaked it up. Though never a brawny wine, Rose Poupre is traditionally Gaillard’s most palate-staining, brooding Côte-Rôtie. The 2018 is a spectacular example, layered, opulent and deep. We have very little.
“Tasted from a new barrel, the 2018 Cote Rotie Rose Pourpre features mocha and plum notes. It’s full-bodied, rich and velvety, with that weight offset by cool menthol notes, and the lengthy finish even seems refreshing as a result. I love the contrast in styles provided by Gaillard’s two top bottlings of Côte Rôtie.” 94-97 points, Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate