Domaine Patrick & Christophe Bonnefond Cote Rotie Les Rochains 2021 750ml

The Bonnefond family farms vineyards on the steep slopes of Côte-Rôtie, where Syrah grows on narrow terraces above the Rhône, and Les Rochains is one of the domaine's single-site bottlings. The 2021 vintage in the northern Rhône was cool and challenging, shaped by spring frost, and it produced fresher, more classically proportioned wines than the warm years around it. Expect the perfumed side of Côte-Rôtie: red and black fruit, cracked pepper, violets and smoky, savory notes, carried by bright acidity and fine tannins. Approachable with a short decant, it should drink well over the next eight to ten years.