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It was an overcast day, but the wind was still, making the short thirty minute drive from Lyon to the town of Ampuis, France, best know for the wine called Cote-Rotie, or the Roasted Slope an easy drive. Even with the cloudy sky and the day starting at 10 the wine world was out in force for the first day of the every other year Decouvertes du Rhone, a six day, multi-village and town tour of the wines and winemakers from the Rhone Valley.
Right off the bat we ran into Mr. Wine Bar of Paris, Mark Williamson of Willi's Winr Bar fame (where they have those amazing posters.) Mark was commenting that while 2009 is getting the attention, there were some interesting 2008 Cote Rotie's to be found.
My view was more along the lines of the 09s being the stars, while 2010 shows promise. As Mark remarked, there were some very good 08's, Faury, Texier, Jasmin, Ogier, etc., but my feeling is the 09s are the ones to lay down from Cote-Rotie.
There were also a bevy of white Condrieu wines made from Viognier as well as some Saint Josephs and Crozes Hermitage reds also supporting my feeling that the 09 vintage is a better vintage for red in the Rhone.
