Côte-Rôtie Les Schistes 2020 Clusel-Roch

Les Schistes is the lighter of Clusel-Roch's Côte-Rôtie bottled wines; the 2020 vintage is a red Syrah produced in the north of the appellation, and it is a wine that beautifully illustrates the importance of restraint. With an alcohol content of 13%, this can be seen as a deliberate choice in the northern Rhône region, where 14-14.5% has become the norm in recent years. Although oak barrels were used, the oak aroma is barely detectable.

The 2020 harvest season was favorable. Thanks to abundant rainfall early in the year, the vines were able to withstand the hot, dry summer, and cool nighttime temperatures helped preserve the freshness of the grapes, which could otherwise have been easily lost due to the daytime heat. The harvest in the northern Côte-Rôtie region began around the first week of September; there was no weather-related pressure to rush, and healthy fruit was harvested. The yield fell short of average levels.

As a result, a medium-bodied Côte-Rôtie was produced rather than one with intense impact. It has a firm texture, and its dark fruit and pepper stand out more than its sheer weight. The iron-rich mica schist beneath the vines pushes the texture toward the taut side.

This wine is best enjoyed until 2034.

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