The 1995 Cote Rotie Champin Junior is not dissimilar from the Champin Le Seigneur. With slightly more acidity, it is a medium-bodied, richly fruity, generously wooded, open-knit, and attractive Cote Rotie. The wine is purely made, with plenty of peppery black fruits to go along with its overt toasty vanillin character. It will age well for 10-12 years. Gerin is undoubtedly one of Cote Rotie's finest winemakers, having produced a succession of very good vintages. In 1996, he added a fourth Cote Rotie - La Landonne - to his portfolio. All the wines reviewed in this segment were extremely unevolved, but very promising when I tasted them in July.
Importer: Langdon Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 861-6800