2020 Christophe Billon Cote Rotie Cote-Rozier, Northern Rhone

All Syrah, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Côte Rozier comes from a site just above La Landonne, and I always find a similar smoky, meaty character from this site. Ripe black fruits, barbecued meat, pepper, and chocolate all define the bouquet, and it's a mouth-filling 2020 with building tannins, a great mid-palate, and a big finish. It has more baby fat than the Brocarde, but still needs bottle age.

93-95 points jebdunnuck.com

The vineyard ‘Côte Rozier’ sits north of the village of Ampuis, on the same, east-facing flank of hillside as ‘La Landonne.’ Steeply graded, the plot’s soils are mostly schist, with some mica pieces; classic ‘Brune’ terroir. The family farms three small parcels within ‘Rozier,’ one of which was  planted in 1942 by winemaker Christophe Billon’s grandfather.

100% hand picked 45yr old Syrah. Côte Rozier’ sits north of the village of Ampuis, on the same, east-facing flank of hillside as ‘La Landonne. Matured in French barrels for 26 months. 50% is new oak