Côte Rôtie Brune et Blonde de Vidal Fleury 2013
Vidal-Fleury
Founded in 1781, Vidal-Fleury not only is the Rhône’s oldest continuing grower/négociant firm, but it also secured an international following very quickly.Thomas Jefferson’s visit in 1787 was its first contact with the United States; he called the wines “ justly celebrated”.
The elaboration of Vidal-Fleury’s wines consists of four separate operations – the vineyard, winemaking, ageing and bottling. The superb origins of the grapes and the patience taken in maturing are what make the quality of Vidal-Fleury wines according to Winemaker Guy Sarton du Jonchay.
Terroir: Sourced from two of the most revered parcels of the entire Rhône Valley. Steep, terraced vineyards rise high above the Rhône River. Côte Blonde owes its name to the light soils of gneiss and silica gravel with clay, while the Côte Brune to the north contains darker soil of mica, schist, iron and a higher proportion of clay.
Vinification: Grapes are hand harvested and transported to the winery in small crates. Fermentation occurs with indigenous yeasts in temperature controlled tanks with the maceration period lasting approximately 3 weeks with frequent pumping over. The wine is aged on its lees for a total of 3 years in a combination of new and used oak barrels as well as large oak casks. The finished wine is very lightly filtered (cross flow) and not fined. The wines rest in bottle for a minimum of 6 months prior to release.
Additional Information
Brilliant, dark red in color. Intense on the nose with violet, spice and berry. Rich, soft but intense on the palate, with layers of red fruit, black currant and spice.
Technical Details
- Appellation: Côte Rôtie
- Winemaker: Guy Sarton du Jonchay
- Sustainability: Sustainable Practices
- Soil: Gneiss, silica, micaschist, iron, clay
- Yield: 37 hl/ha
- Alcohol: >14%
- Avg Production: 3350 cases
- Sizes Available: 750ml
- Pack Size: 6/750ml
- Varietals: 95% Syrah, 5% Viognier
Recent Press
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Score: 90 Points
JebDunnuck.com Author: Jeb Dunnuck
Date: Thursday, August 2, 2018Showing similar to when I tasted it on release, the 2013 Côte Rotie Brune et Blonde is an outstanding effort that shows perfumed, classic notes of black raspberries, toasted spices, spring flowers, and bacon fat. Medium-bodied, elegant and seamless, its a quintessential Côte Rotie that shines for its elegance, complexity, and nuance. Drink it anytime over the coming decade or so. -
Score: 93 Points
Wine Enthusiast Author: Anna Lee
Date: Friday, February 16, 2018Cellar Selection. Hints of coffee, earth, smoke and spice highlight cool, crisp blackberry and cherry flavors in this wine. It's fragrant and fresh, with a vibrant core of acidity and firm tannins that feel taut and thrilling. While beautiful already, its concentrated fruit and mineral complexities should meld from 2021 and continue to improve through 2030.Grade: Cellar Selection -
Score: 92 Points
Vinous Author: Josh Raynolds
Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2017Deep ruby. A complex, seductively perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, incense and potpourri, accompanied by a hint of smokiness in the background. Sweet, focused and energetic in style, offering intense black raspberry, boysenberry and violet pastille flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate. Shows impressive clarity and mineral lift on the impressively long, youthfully tannic finish, which leaves behind an exotic suggestion of five-spice powder. -
The Wine Advocate Author: Jeb Dunnuck
Date: Monday, November 14, 2016Not yet in bottle, the 2013 Côte Rotie Brune et Blonde should match the 2012 in terms of quality. Cassis, vanilla, graphite and spice all give way to a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, fresh Côte Rotie that will have 10-12 years of overall longevity.Grade: 88-90 Points
