Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Cote Rotie La Mordoree 1990
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This wine is intended to rival the finest single vineyard Cote Roties made by the likes of Guigal and Rostaing. It succeeds in doing so! The saturated dark ruby/purple color is followed by an awesome nose that offers copious quantities of sweet black fruits, flowers, toasty new oak, and smoky bacon fat. In the mouth, there is superb concentration, a sweet, expansive texture, and a mind-boggling, long finish. This lavishly rich Cote Rotie, which is already delicious, is capable of lasting for 10-15 years. The young Michel Chapoutier continues his quest of cultivating his vineyards in an organic fashion, and turning out wines that reflect the soil, the grape, and the vintage. These concentrated (because of low yields) wines are made with minimal intervention by the winemaker. Chapoutier did extremely well with his northern Rhone vineyards in 1991. It is no secret that Marcel Guigal is Chapoutier's point of reference for Cote Rotie. Chapoutier has been trying to upgrade the quality of his Cote Rotie since he assumed responsibility for the winemaking. Progress is clearly evident in the firm's two cuvees of 1990. The real star is the 1990 Cote Rotie-Mordoree. Importer: Paterno Imports, Chicago, IL.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The saturated dark ruby/purple color is followed by an awesome nose that offers copious quantities of sweet black fruits, flowers, toasty new oak, and smoky bacon fat. In the mouth there is superb concentration, a sweet, expansive texture, and a mind-boggling, long finish. This lavishly rich Cote Rotie, which is already delicious, is capable of lasting for 10-15 years. Last tasted 7/96.
About the Producer
Founded in 1808, M. Chapoutier owns 175 hectares of vines in five appellations in the Rhone Valley and is now run by the energetic and brilliant Michel Chapoutier. Since Michel started running the estate, the quality of the winemaking has improved very quickly and the philosophy of winemaking has changed considerably. Michel Chapoutier's achievements caused an instant sensation in the winemaking world and he completely changed the way Chapoutier wines were made and the winemaking process, eventually making wines to rival those made by Marcel Guigal, one of the best winemakers in the Rhone Valley. The vineyards of Château Sapoutier range from the Rhone Valley to Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with a number of quality vineyards planted with Syrah, Grenache, Marsanne, Roussanne and other major grape varieties. The winery is "mono-varietal" (i.e. making wines from a single variety), for example, all Syrah for the Châteauneuf-du-Rotie wines, all Marsanne for the Hermitage whites and all Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines. The wines of Chateauneuf-du-Pape are all Grenache. Château Sapoutier has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of its wines, even though each single vineyard produces far more than the 500 cases of fine wine. Since 1989, Château Sapoutier has been using biodynamic farming and winemaking methods with the aim of producing wines that are the purest and closest to the natural terroir. Every decision, every step of the viticultural and winemaking process is designed to add to the terroir, varietal character and vintage identity of the wines. Only wild yeasts are used for fermentation and the wines are made in small oak barrels. The best red and white wines are not clarified or filtered before bottling.
1989(3)
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