Paul Jaboulet-Aîné : Domaine des Pierrelles 2016

Sleek and slightly taut in feel, with a light cedar edge running amid the black currant and bitter plum fruit. Light tobacco and olive notes check in on the finish, adding nice typicity, but this stays a bit taciturn overall. Drink now through 2030. 75 cases made, 25 cases imported.

Brought up entirely in demi-muids (they moved to 100% demi-muids in 2015), the 2016 Côte Rôtie Les Pierrelles offers a fresh, vibrant, downright pretty style with black raspberries, crushed rocks, violets, and floral aromas and flavors. It has medium-bodied richness, plenty of underlying grip, beautiful tension, and outstanding length. It nicely showcases the vintage’s fresher, more elegant and classic style.

Deep nose, with a lightly smoky mineral note; the palate is round, already showing a voluptuous dimension, but it doesn’t deliver all the length or density expected in the appellation.