2017 Jean-Luc Jamet Côte-Rôtie ‘Les Terrasses’
Region: Rhone Valley, France
Grape: Syrah
Culinary Suggestions: Hearty dishes such as red meat-driven lasagne and ragu
Vineyard Practice: Sustainable
About
Jean Luc's winemaking journey began in the 1970s, working alongside his father and brother in the family-owned Côte-Rôtie vineyard. After planting vines on some of the best parcels in Côte-Rôtie by 1985, he gained recognition as an acclaimed vigneron, known for producing some of the most beautiful Côte-Rôtie wines at Domaine Jamet. In 2012, after over 20 years of working with his brother Jean-Paul, Jean-Luc decided to pursue his own label and the family vineyards were divided between them. This created an opportunity for wine enthusiasts to experience a different, yet equally important, interpretation of Côte-Rôtie from one of the region's icons.
Jean-Luc's eponymous label spans over 8 hectares of land, 4.5 of which are within the Côte-Rôtie appellation, located on the famous hillsides of Lancement, La Landonne, Chavaroche, and Les Moutonnes. To maintain quality, he limits yields to under 40 hl/ha and cultivates the necessary stress in the vines. Each parcel is harvested by hand and blended throughout the vinification process, with a third of the grapes processed in whole bunches to add complexity. Jean-Luc ages his wines in French oak barrels of different formats for 20 to 24 months, resulting in medium-bodied expressions of Syrah that are thrillingly delicate and built upon freshness and detail. These wines can age for over 30 years, making them highly sought-after by wine connoisseurs worldwide.
Tasting Notes
In contrast to the sullen 2018, Jamet's 2017 Cote Rotie Terrasses is more open at the moment, with attractive notes of strawberry and raspberry compote framed by velvety tannins. It's full-bodied, with enough stuffing to carry it at least another decade, probably longer.
93 points - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate January 2022
Drink: 2022 - 2035
The bouquet is bold and structured, with a spectrum of red to dark berry fruit alongside an iron earthiness. The palate delivers waves of dark berry fruit, savoury cured meat across the mid-palate, before bakers spice and menthol on the aftertaste. Drink now with a one-hour decant before serving or lay down till 2030. - Importer Note