Domaine Jamet Cotes du Rhone Equivoque Rhone 2018

Robert Parker  91-93 pts

Jamet's 2018 Cotes du Rhone is 100% Syrah from Ampuis. It boasts the seductive floral and fruity aromas of the IGP Syrah—violets, blueberries and raspberries—but with a bit more weight and texture. It shows remarkable purity in a medium to full-bodied, velvety wine, with flavors that linger elegantly on the finish. It really is a baby Côte Rôtie, yet it's capable of putting some Côte Rôties to shame. Good thing, as the price for the 2016 (a lesser vintage) is creeping up past $50 in the United States. When his brother Jean-Luc Jamet went his own way with half of the family vineyards, Jean-Paul continued working in the existing winery above the town of Ampuis. It's always a treat to visit him there, getting a barrel-tasting tour of Côte Rôtie's numerous lieux-dits. Jean-Paul says 2018 is an excellent year, "very ripe yet with supple tannins and good freshness." He contrasts that to 2017, which he says is "a solar year with surprising elegance." As he sums up, "For me, 2018 is magnificent but perhaps a bit southern. In 2017, you know you're in the Northern Rhône." Jamet describes 2016 as "une belle expression de Syrah—classique." To illustrate his point that warm vintages aren't a threat to Côte Rôtie, Jamet poured a couple of older wines from hot years. Both the 2009 and 1989 Côte Rôties were singing. The '89 he compared to the '18, calling it, "fumé, lardé, épicé." He concluded, "I'm confident in hot vintages, because with time, the terroir emerges." (JC)

Decanter  92 pts

Medium-bodied, very fresh, no over-ripeness. Structured, saline, plenty of thrust and direction, with a saline, snappy, fairly dry tannins. Edgy - needs time. Not made in every vintage. Grown just outside lieu-dit Tartaras and lieu-dit Germine. Whole bunch fermented, aged in 2-year-old barrels.

Vinous  90 pts

Saturated ruby. Spice-tinged aromas of ripe red and dark berries and pungent flowers, with a smoky nuance emerging as the wine opens up. Sappy blackberry, bitter cherry and candied violet flavors show fine detail and are supported by a vein of juicy acidity. Turns sweeter with aeration, picking up spicecake and olive qualities that carry through a very long, gently tannic finish.