🏰 The 2009 vintage for the Rhône Valley was fantastic, particularly in the Northern Rhône, with a warm, dry spring leading to an early budburst and flowering. Mathilde et Yves Gangloff's Côte-Rôtie La Sereine Noire is crafted from 100% old vine Syrah, at least 50 years of age, sourced from the Mollard and Côte Rozier lieux-dits, blending grapes from both the Côte Blonde and Côte Brune. The wine undergoes vinification in stainless steel vats and is aged for up to 24 months in 30% to 50% new French oak barrels. This producer is known for their tiny quantities and a modern style with noticeable oak influence in its youth. 【Pure genius, outstanding Côte-Rôtie from old vine Syrah, in its prime drinking window】 This Côte-Rôtie offers an expressive nose of dark fruit, sweet spice, herbal sugar, and blue flowers, with notes of black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, and black olive. Expect a huge presence, expansive with leather, tobacco, dried meat, and dried dark flowers. The palate is dense, with melting and velvety round tannins, concentrated, vibrant, fresh, and refined, showcasing powerfully ripe black cherry, violet, and damson alongside black pepper and black olive. It's supremely elegant, poised to an everlasting long finish. 🍴 This bold and structured Syrah is an excellent pairing for lamb. It also complements all types of classic meat dishes, including veal, pork, beef, duck, game, roast chicken, and grilled or braised dishes. 🥂 The 2009 La Sereine Noire is currently in a beautiful, mature phase, with well-integrated tannins. It's considered to be in its prime drinking window, with some suggesting it's best between 9-20 years of age (meaning up to 2029). While it can be enjoyed now, it has shown to be fantastic with age. Decanting for 1-3 hours is recommended when young, but older vintages may need less, just enough to remove sediment. Serve at cellar temperature.