2020 Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres ‘Les Cotes’

A smoldering, big-boned, smoky version, with tar, incense and singed alder notes surrounding a core of ripe plum, bitter black cherry and mocha-dusted black plum, with bacon fat details. Shows a lot of tightly coiled power and density knit together by grippy tannins. Needs time and decanting. Syrah, Mourvèdre and Grenache. Best from 2025 through 2035

Lastly, the 2020 Vinsobres Les Côtes has an almost Côte Rôtie-like vibe in its black raspberry, spring flower, game, and tapenade-driven aromas and flavors. Pure, medium to full-bodied, and incredibly elegant on the palate, with polished tannins, it’s another remarkable wine from this estate, which needs to be on every reader’s radar.

Full-bodied, concentrated, this has those tight, serrated Vinsobres tannins and balancing acidity. It’s a big wine that will take a little while to come round. Perhaps just a touch overripe, but this has plenty of substance and guts.