Dark violet color. Powerful, spice- and mineral-tinged black and blue fruits, incense, violet and smoked meat on the expansive nose. Rich yet surprisingly energetic, offering palate-staining blueberry, cherry-cola, floral pastille and licorice flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. Shows excellent energy and spicy thrust on the clinging finish, which is given shape by dusty, slow-building tannins.

I tasted the final blend of the 2019 Cote Rotie from tank, where it was awaiting bottling. It retains the essential elegance and complexity that typifies Jamet's Cote Rotie despite the warm summer; floral nuances combine with hints of wood ash and purple raspberries on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is velvety in texture and the flavors linger on the finish. It strikes me as being a touch less impressive than other recent vintages, but perhaps it will bounce back after bottling.