2022 René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde Magnum 1.5L, Northern Rhone

The 2022 Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde is another more medium to full-bodied, elegant 2022 in the vintage. It doesn't have the sheer depth and density of the 2020 (it will easily be a step up over the 2021) but nevertheless has a powerful, concentrated style carrying ample red and black fruits, lots of spicy, floral notes, ultra-fine tannins, and a focused, precise style on the palate. I wouldn't be surprised to see it put on weight over the course of its élevage, and it's going to need short-term cellaring to show its full potential.

95-97 points jebdunnuck.com

The 2022 Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde reveals intense aromas of cedar, blackberry, black cherry, graphite and a slice of orange rind. Full-bodied and structured by firm tannins with a hint of vanilla, the 2022 provides marked wood tannins that slightly detract from its elegance. Built like a brick wall, the Côte Blonde will require the most time to come around among Rostaing’s 2022s. Fermented with 100% whole clusters, it promises great complexity with patience. Drink: 2032-2042

94 points Nicolas Greinacher vinous.com

Gently fragrant jasmine and rose, very Côte Blonde in terms of aromatics. Soft, velvety mouthfeel with flavours of blackberry, cassis and more rose. Slightly higher alcohol and lower acidity than a typical year, not as tense and upright as some recent vintages, making for a luxurious,  rich style of Côte-Rôtie. Four weeks in tank, 18 months in oak, limited new oak, natural yeasts and as many stems as possible. Drink: 2026-2038

95 points Matt Walls decanter.com

René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde is one of the most revered and seductive expressions of Syrah from the Northern Rhône—a wine that marries aromatic finesse with depth and precision in a way few others can. Sourced from the fabled Côte Blonde slope, this cuvée is a benchmark of elegance, crafted by a family whose name is synonymous with the modern renaissance of Côte-Rôtie.

René Rostaing is one of the great figures of the appellation, having brought together the legendary holdings of his father-in-law Albert Dervieux and his uncle Marius Gentaz in the 1990s. Today, his son Pierre Rostaing continues the legacy, maintaining an unwavering focus on traditional farming, thoughtful vinification, and a clear expression of each vineyard site. Côte Blonde is considered the most graceful and aromatic of the Côte-Rôtie slopes, with its pale schist and granite soils giving rise to Syrah of purity, lift, and seductive perfume.

This cuvée is typically produced in minuscule quantities from vines over 50 years old. Fermentation is done with a high proportion of whole bunches to enhance structure and aromatic complexity, followed by aging in a mix of demi-muids and barriques, mostly older oak, to allow the fruit and site to shine without interference.

In the glass, Côte Blonde is hauntingly aromatic—violet, black cherry, crushed herbs, smoked meat, and a whisper of incense. The palate is silky and layered, with bright acidity and ultra-fine tannins framing a core of red and black fruit, savoury spice, and mineral length that carries on and on.

This is Syrah with soul and stature—a wine for the cellar, but utterly compelling now with time in a decanter. Ideal with aged beef, duck, or truffled game dishes.