The terrific 2012 Cote a Cote is 60% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah that was aged in a combination of new and used French oak barrels. Seamless and elegant, with full-bodied richness, it has awesome notes of kirsch and black raspberry-styled fruits, toasted spice, licorice and roasted meats all emerging from the glass. This beauty shows the purity of the vintage, and backs that up with rock star concentration, perfect balance and serious length. It will have over a decade of longevity.
This was another incredible lineup by winemaker Stephan Asseo, and both his 2012s and 2013s are at the top of the vintage. Looking at the 2012s, this vintage reminds Stephan of 2004, and the wines show incredible purity, as well as blockbuster levels of depth and richness. The tannin quality here is also off the charts, and this is what puts his 2012s a notch above the 2013s. For the reds, we started the tasting with 2013s from barrel. At the moment, the 2013s have more obvious tannin structure, yet they don’t lack for fruit or texture either. It will be interesting to see how these continue to develop in barrel. Either way, both of these vintages deserve a place in your cellar and it will be thrilling stuff to follow these wines over the coming decade or longer.
Wine Spectator 2014 (88 Punkte)
Offers rustic, earth-laced berry and dried herb notes, with a supple texture and subtle nuances that maintain interest through the finish. Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Drink now through 2021. 1,100 cases made. –JL
L'Aventure
Maybe the “ultimate” Côte à Côte blend, as Stephan has envisioned this wine to be. Predominant Grenache aromas and fruit flavors are luscious, silky, and soft in the nose and mouth. Classic red hard-candy and bright red fruit flavors lay over a deep yet subtle set of smoky, meaty, and leathery notes. With a spicy and long finish this wine is an extravagant version of a great southern Rhône Styled wine.
