2021 Levet 'Les Journaries' Cote Rotie 1.5L
95-97 Vinous Media (Josh Reynolds)
Saturated magenta. A wild, highly expressive bouquet evokes an array of black and blue fruits, pungent flowers, smoked meat, licorice and exotic spices, with a bright mineral overtone. Offers palate-coating, deeply concentrated cassis, cherry liqueur, smoky bacon, fruitcake and licorice flavors that turn livelier as the wine stretches out. The mineral and spice notes build steadily through a strikingly long finish that's framed by strong but velvety tannins that are quickly absorbed by the wine's dense, dark fruit. - By Josh Raynolds on December 2022
“Les Journaries” is a cuvée drawn from grapes harvested from old vines in the “La Landonne” lieu-dit (mad famous by Guigal). This wine is just a touch more subtle than the “Chavaroche”. With a bouquet of violets, wild berries, a touch of animal and resinous-like tannins that speak of the inclusion of stems (a hallmark of the Levet tradition). The “Journaries” is approachable at an earlier stage than its companion “La Chavaroche” but, that being said, it is a wine that not only ages gracefully but almost requires a touch of patience.
- Staked and head trained, vines are planted at 8,000-9,000 vines/ha and average 45 years old.
- Lutte raisonnée farming. Mostly copper-sulfate and other organic treatments.
- Annual working of the soil to maintain vineyard health.
- Journaries see 30-40% destemming, while Chavaroche ferments as whole clusters.
- Journaries spends 24 months divided between 600-l demi muids and 30-hl foudres (15% new oak.) Chavaroche spends 24 months in 600-l demi muids, 30% of them new.
