Domaine Champet 2017 Cote Rotie "Les Fils a Jo" 750ml

Champet’s top cuvee, from a schistous La Vialliere, but stays 6 months longer in cask.

[2016 vintage] Has a smoky, rounded nose, shows a little reduction; there’s a suave sun effect here, grilling, with very neat raspberry fruit. The palate has a delightful start, the violets of the domaine, good flow, with bright cassis, black cherry fruits, the violets constant. Well-judged tannins add couch, squeezy texture to the end. This has good potential. It gives a bit more late on, is more profound than the regular [La Vialliere] 2016. It finishes on raspberry, flowers; there’s a lot of violet and rose all through.

-- John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com