Côte-Rôtie

My quest for authentic, terroir driven Côte-Rôtie was finally satiated this year with a superb visit with Yoann François at Domaine François et Fils, located in Mornas which is up in the hills behind Ampuis, this is an estate on the Côte Brune. 

I had heard great things about this estate and had purchased a bottle of their 2019 Côte-Rôtie at a shop in Saumur that I go to each year as the selection by the owner is second to none. To my delight, when I opened it whilst in Sancerre I was shocked by how much I liked it, this was exactly what I was looking for! a masterful expression of Syrah's carnal delights; billowing perfume, silken texture, deep concentration and lovely length and most of all the finesse that only Côte-Rôtie can bring. 

This is a jewel of an estate with just 4 hectares of vines, planted in the 80's all in great terroir. Yoann and his brother Erwan are the current custodians and the future is sure, this is estate is already a star but one that is quite surely destined for greatness.