2022 Corinne Jean-Paul & Loic Jamet Cote Rotie
Back in the mid 90’s, on one of my very first work-trips to France, we made a stop at Domaine Jamet. I’d never heard of them before, barely knew where I was on a map and I don’t remember who we met. But I remember that tasting like it was yesterday!
Bobby Kacher, the importer at the time who had brought me there, had a good laugh when after only the second pour I looked over at him with what must have been heart-eyes. “You haven't seen anything yet” he said, “Just wait!” That was the understatement of the trip. We finished the visit that day with a side by side 1989 and 1991 Cote Rote that forever changed my idea of what Cote Rotie was all about!
Needless to say, I have been collecting these wines ever since.
If you have ever tasted the Jamet wines, they are all about texture - quite possibly some of the most elegant Cote Rotie being produced today. Sure there is concentration and extraction but not in the black fruited, heavy hand of oak, knock you over the head style that Parker seemed to popularize back in the day.
Jamet is a wine like Burgundy. It's cerebral, unfolds in the glass revealing new subtitles you may not have tasted in the previous sip. I would drink a lot more Syrah if more producers made their wines in this style. World class in every way!
Securing this wine is always a challenge. What little is produced seemingly gets snapped up in an instant. I can’t tell you how fortunate I am to be able to offer you the 2022 Cote Rotie here today. Don’t think about these too long - they usually disappear rather quickly.
Vinified with 100% whole bunches, the 2022 Cote Rotie from Jean-Paul & Corinne Jamet reveals a dense, deep and complex bouquet of violets, mulberries, flowers, ripe dark wild berries and licorice, all accented by delicate spicy undertones. Medium to full-bodied, dense and structured, it's tense, with a fleshy core of fruit for a Côte Rôtie and a long, spicy and fruity finish. This vintage stands out with its vibrant, succulent acidity, lending an ethereal quality to the wine and making it less austere than previous vintages.
- Wine Advocate, 94
The 2022 Côte-Rôtie is alluring and complex, with ripe black fruit, crushed violet, iodine, graphite and cedar notes alongside stemmy, spicy hints. Medium-bodied yet markedly concentrated, the 2022 shines with flawless elegance and an elongated, expansive finish. Sleek tannins underpin this expressive Côte-Rôtie. This is a fantastic Jamet not to be missed by anyone fortunate enough to latch into a bottle.
- Vinous Media, 95
As is normal at this domaine, I was able to taste the 2022 Côte Rôtie as multiple components from throughout the appellation. All the barrels rated between 93-97 and have classic Jamet character, with medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of tannins, and the riper, richer style of this sunnier vintage. I think it's going to be a step up over the 2021, but it will require patience.
- Jeb Dunnuck, 93-95
