Bernard Levet Cote Rotie 'Les Journaries'

'Since the 2004 vintage, we have expanded our work with the Levet family to include a second bottling of Cote Rotie known as “Les Journaries”, a cuvée drawn from grapes harvested from old vines in the “La Landonne” lieu-dit. This wine is more subtle, more elegant and “quieter” if you will than the “Chavaroche”. At the same time, it is very much a Levet wine with a bouquet of violets, wild berries, a touch of animal and resinous-like tannins that speak of the inclusion of stems (a hallmark of the Levet tradition). The “Journaries” is approachable at an earlier stage than its companion “La Chavaroche” but, that being said, it is a wine that not only ages gracefully but almost requires a touch of patience. We now import approximately 1500 bottles plus magnums of this cuvée each vintage.' - Importer Neal Rosenthal

'An intensely perfumed nose displays mineral-accented black/blue fruit and floral pastille scents that pick up olive paste, bacon and exotic spice notes with air. In a concentrated yet energetic style, offering appealingly sweet cherry, blueberry, licorice, spicecake and candied lavender flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Shows outstanding clarity and mineral thrust on a wonderfully long, floral-accented finish shaped by fine-grained, slow-building tannins. 70% of this fruit comes from La Landonne and the rest is from Côte Blonde. Outside of the US, this bottling is called “Maestria.” All whole clusters; raised in mostly neutral demi-muids.' - Vinous Media - 95-96 points