Notify me
2015 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
Barruol / Lynch
Today, Côte-Rôtie is enjoying a comeback. These once-neglected steep slopes overlooking the Rhône are now highly sought after by vignerons who recognize the potential for a delicious and distinctive expression of Syrah. Among them is Louis Barruol, proprietor of Château de Saint Cosme in Gigondas, who has developed a small project purchasing fruit from some of the finest terroirs upriver and crafting several micro-cuvées of traditional Côte-Rôtie. This entails selecting sustainably grown Serine (an old clone of Syrah) from top vineyard sites and vinifying in neutral wood with the grape stems, as was once common practice, before an unfined and unfiltered bottling. The lieu-dit Besset lies at the top of the slope, where cooling breezes offset the richness endowed by the full southern exposure in a warm vintage. From the classic aromas of graphite, black fruit, and roasted spice, to the total finesse of its tannins, this is Côte-Rôtie at its best.
—Anthony Lynch
| Wine Type: | red |
| Vintage: | 2015 |
| Bottle Size: | 750mL |
| Blend: | Syrah |
| Appellation: | Côte-Rôtie |
| Country: | France |
| Region: | Northern Rhône |
| Producer: | Barruol Lynch - Northern Rhône |
| Winemaker: | Louis Barruol |
| Vineyard: | 30 years |
| Soil: | Schist |
| Farming: | Lutte Raisonnée |
| Alcohol: | 13.5% |
More from this Producer or Region
2023 Crozes-Hermitage Rouge
France | Northern Rhône
This small parcel has a fruit-forward, approachable style, yet with intense spice and licorice in there as well, perhaps from the deep-rooted old Syrah vines.
2023 Ardèche Syrah “Syrah Mauve”
France | Northern Rhône
Young vines in Mauves, short maceration, stainless-steel aged... but definitely no simple Syrah!
2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc “Les Ribaudes”
France | Northern Rhône
The 2023 falls perfectly in line with the house style: there is not a single sharp edge, only tender, succulent, ripe peachy fruit, plus a touch of honeysuckle to round things out.
2022 Cornas
France | Northern Rhône
Majestically dark and brooding Cornas, layered with aromas of herbs and mint. Extremely limited availability
2016 Cornas “Reynard”
France | Northern Rhône
**Extremely limited quantities, maximum two bottles per purchase.**
2023 Saint-Joseph Rouge
France | Northern Rhône
The kind of Saint-Jo to dig into right away: smoky, layered, lush, and laced with violet, bay leaf, and black olive.
2021 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
France | Northern Rhône
Aromas of black pepper, briny black olive, and violets with the earthiness, herbs, and concentration of southern Rhône Grenache.
2023 Saint-Joseph Rouge
France | Northern Rhône
From high-altitude slopes above the Rhône river, this Syrah exhibits remarkable purity and grace.
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les 3 Brunes”
France | Northern Rhône
Irresistible notes of black olive, succulent black cherries, and spices
2024 Vin de France Rouge “Cuvée de Louis”
France | Northern Rhône
Cool in the mouth, with a whiff of smoke and game, this soulful little country Syrah will do a jig with your pâtés and terrines.
More from Northern Rhône or France
2022 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Northern Rhône
2022 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2023 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah “l’Art Zélé”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2023 Saint-Joseph Rouge
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint-Joseph “Les Grisières”
André Perret France | Northern Rhône
2021 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2016 Cornas “Reynard”
Thierry Allemand France | Northern Rhône
2022 Côte-Rôtie
Domaine Jamet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les 3 Brunes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côtes du Vivarais Rouge
Domaine Gallety France | Northern Rhône
2022 Crozes Hermitage “Tiercerolles”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Besset”
Barruol / Lynch France | Northern Rhône
2023 Collines Rhodaniennes Syrah “l’Art Zélé”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2023 Saint-Joseph Rouge
Domaine Jean-Claude Marsanne France | Northern Rhône
2023 Saint-Joseph Blanc “Les Ribaudes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
2022 Saint-Joseph “Les Grisières”
André Perret France | Northern Rhône
2021 Saint-Joseph Rouge “L’Instinct”
Domaine Jolivet France | Northern Rhône
2016 Cornas “Reynard”
Thierry Allemand France | Northern Rhône
2022 Côte-Rôtie
Domaine Jamet France | Northern Rhône
2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les 3 Brunes”
Lionel Faury France | Northern Rhône
Where the newsletter started
Where the newsletter started
Every three or four months I would send my clients a cheaply made list of my inventory, but it began to dawn on me that business did not pick up afterwards. It occurred to me that my clientele might not know what Château Grillet is, either. One month in 1974 I had an especially esoteric collection of wines arriving, so I decided to put a short explanation about each wine into my price list, to try and let my clients know what to expect when they uncorked a bottle. The day after I mailed that brochure, people showed up at the shop, and that is how these little propaganda pieces for fine wine were born.—Kermit Lynch