Wine Advisor
M. Chapoutier, Cote Rotie La Mordoree 1998
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1998 Cote Rotie La Mordoree offers the tell-tale Cote Rotie smokiness, abundant jammy black fruits, dried herbs, and considerable finesse and elegance. Readers may expect more of a blockbuste, but in 1998 Chapoutier has fashioned a stylish, intense, concentrated, medium-bodied, racy wine that can be drunk upon release as well as over the following 15 years. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-89000
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 1998 Cote Rotie La Mordoree, a wine that spends 12 months in 100% new oak, and is made from 75-80-year old Syrah vines planted on both the Cote Blonde and Cote Brune (some are adjacent to Guigal's La Turque), exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color in addition to a spectacular nose of grilled toast, cured olives, cassis, fried bacon, and smoke. As it sits in the glass, additional nuances emerge. Deep, full-bodied, powerful, and concentrated, this 1998 is already approachable. The unctuous texture and long, 45-second finish suggest even greater promise for the future. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-89000
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)1990(2)1991(2)1992(1)1995(2)1996(1)1997(1)
Package Size
