Cote Rotie recommendation

I want to try a good bottle from Côte Rôtie, and I’d like to spend roughly $50 to do it. Anyone have a tried-and-tested, go-to CR they want to recommend that won’t destroy my relatively meager wine budget (if possible)? Cheers!

I’ve been able to get the '10 and '14 Levet - Chavarouche for $50 and under recently, but it wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea as a young wine. It has bracing acidity and is meant to age.

I can’t think of anything else at that price point.

JLL from DrinkRhone had the top for 2015 vintage as:

****** M & Christophe Billon La Côte Rozier 2034-37 10/16 v high quality fruit, great tannin
****** Domaine de Bonserine La Garde 2035-39 10/16 muscle, subtlety, complex
****** Jean-Michel Gérin Les Grandes Places 2041-44 11/17 dark, serene, much potential
****** Dom J-Paul & Corinne Jamet Côte Brune 2050-55 11/17 virile, concentrated, v long, STGT
****** Stéphane Ogier La Belle Hélène 2045-48 04/16 the rockface; class, balance
****** René Rostaing Côte Blonde 2044-46 10/16 complex, intricate, Grand Vin
***** Pierre Benetière Cordeloux 2037-39 03/18 slinky gras; hi interest, appeal
***** Pierre Benetière Le Dolium 2039-41 03/18 sturdy, muscled, drive, iron
***** P & C Bonnefond Les Rochains 2045-46 04/16 joyous gras, rocking wine
***** Domaine de Bonserine La Viallière 2035-38 10/16 compact, effortless, handsome
***** Clusel-Roch Les Grandes Places 2037-41 10/16 tight, redoubtable, strong
***** Ben & David Duclaux La Germine 2033-36 10/16 sustained juice, full blooded
***** Yves Gangloff Côte Rozier 2036-38 11/17 thick, nourishing, handsome
***** Yves Gangloff La Sereine Noire 2039-41 11/17 style, iron, concentration, long
***** Domaine Garon Lancement 2033-36 10/16 wide, shapely, handsome
***** Jean-Michel Gérin La Landonne 2040-43 11/17 generous, thorough, sudiste
***** Jean-Michel Gérin La Viallière 2040-42 11/17 handsome, long, packed
***** Dom Jean-Paul & Corinne Jamet 2044-48 11/17 close packing, rich, dense
***** François Merlin 2033-35 10/15 concentrated, dense, fresh
***** Stéphane Ogier Lancement 2042-45 04/16 ripe, coated, southern
***** Maison Nicolas Perrin 2030-32 10/16 pedigree, balance, high charm
***** Stéphane Pichat Les Grandes Places 2035-37 10/15 effortless gras, v long
***** Maison Christophe Pichon Promesse 2033-36 10/16 savoury, rich; authority
***** René Rostaing La Landonne 2043-46 10/16 stylish, complete, earth to sky
***** Christophe Semaska Fleur de Montlys 2043-45 04/16 sleek; fine juice, mineral
***** Christophe Semaska Lancement 2040-42 04/16 complex, savoury, scaled
***** Tardieu-Laurent 2043-45 07/16 ample gras, quality tannins
***** Vignoble Jean-Luc Jamet Terrasses

My bargain is Domaine des Rosiers Côte-Rôtie Cuvée Drevon:

25 plots across 5 sites, northern sector, 70% 1940-1970s Syrah from Rozier, plus 25% Côte Baudin (1982), 5% Fongeant (1977), includes 2-4% Viognier, 80% destemmed, 3 week vinification, 50% submerged cap, pumping overs, light cap punching, 1 part vat emptying/refilling, assembled after the malo in steel vat, aged 25% new, 75% 2-3 year 228-litre oak casks 18 months (until early 2000s was used barrels 6 months, then 25% new, 75% used oak casks 6-8 months), fined, filtered, called Drevon in mid-2010s, Classique before then, 13,200-35,000 b

That’s great to have that list, Josh. Sadly, it’s not much help finding a $50 C-R. I checked W-S for the first five. The '15s aren’t showing there for most producers, so these prices below are the lowest for other recent, less hyped years.

I really love Mary and Christophe Billon and Greg and Lyle have both offered some of their “Les Elotins” for less than $50

+1 on Levet.

Xavier Gerard’s Cote-Rotie can be had for about $50 and it is excellent and has recently acquired a number of Berkerker fanboys. Cedric Parpette makes very good if modernish (very ripe) Cote-Rotie under $50. I’ve only had one vintage of Champet but it was totally classic. I’ve wanted to try Chambeyron, Domaine des Rosiers, and Pichon. I have been underwhelmed by Jasmin. I see some of Kermit Lynch’s Cote-Roties (Barruol Lynch) offered below $50, those would be tempting. I would avoid Pichat, way too modern.

Guigal’s Cote Rotie can be very good in a more subtle expression. The 98 and 99 looked really good on release and at 12-15yrs of age.

I would not recommend Levet at all. I happen to love it, but it can be a rather pungent wine that does not appeal to others. Take Alan Rath, for example. He’s a Rhone buff but does not love Levet.

I would second the recommendation on Xavier, especially in 2015. It’s a rather ripe wine without being too OTT. It would likely be more appealing as one ventures into this great little region of the world.

Cote Rotie often seems to be one extreme or the other - modern and glossy or lean and mean - at least in terms of what people talk about. I tend to gravitate towards the middle ground for Syrah. What producers do folks recommend for something that has some fruit, without being too grapey and polished?

Benetiere.

Bingo. Gorgeous stuff.

That I can find? [help.gif]

Faury Cote Rotie would be a good bet at a reasonable price. Although the 2015 is a little north of $50, you might find another vintage.

15 Gerard is 56-60 at various vendors atm.

2016 Cedric Parpette Cote Rotie Montmain is both within budget and a nice wine.

You can get Burgaud for around $50. I like it.

Domaine Rostaing “Ampodium” (the classic cuvee) 2015 should be available below 50 (ex tax) and is a textbook Cote-Rotie …
The vineyard bottlings (Cote blonde, La Landonne, Cote brune) are much more expensive …

I would not recommend Levet or Burgaud for a “beginner” - too traditional and rustic in the youth …

The last time I looked, the OP looked for Cote Rotie @ 50,with no other criteria. Levet fits that. Benetiere is not near near that.