Bernard Levet Cote-Rotie Les Journaries / Maestria 2018

Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie 'Les Journaries / Maestria is a striking, deeply traditional masterclass in Northern Rhône Syrah from one of the region's true cult benchmark families. Sourced overwhelmingly from old, manually terraced Syrah vines planted in the legendary, steep schist soils of the La Landonne lieu-dit, this cuvée goes by two names depending on the market: Les Journaries for the US market and Maestria in Europe. The Levet family relies on uncompromising, time-honored techniques, executing a 100% whole-cluster fermentation with indigenous yeasts followed by a long three-week maceration. It then spends three full years maturing in a combination of traditional oak foudres and old 600-liter casks, culminating in a raw, profoundly pure expression of Côte Rôtie that is built to evolve majestically over decades.

In the glass, it reveals a dark, inky ruby-purple hue, exploding with a remarkably complex, aromatic bouquet of ripe black raspberries, wild blueberries, and fresh violets, structurally braced by classic Northern Rhône notes of black olives, cracked pepper, and a subtle hint of smoky bacon fat. On the palate, it is powerful and muscular, striking a stunning balance between dense, savory dark fruit and a vibrant, crisp acidity that provides gorgeous lift. The whole-cluster stem inclusion delivers a formidable, tightly wound tannic spine and an edgy, wild undergrowth complexity that firmly demands cellar time. It culminates in an incredibly long, focused finish laced with charcoal, dried herbs, and a savoury, mineral-drenched grip.