From the southern sector of the appellation, adjacent to Condrieu, the 2003 Cote Rotie Bassenon reveals abundant acidity (no doubt much of it added) along with scents of herbes de Provence, black olives, sweet and sour red cherries, and blackberries. A disjointed effort with both terrific ripeness and tart acids, frankly, I do not know in which direction it will go. If the fruit falls away it will leave only an acidic, tannic shell.
Importer: Rosenthal Wine Merchant Ltd., Pine Plains, NY; tel. (800) 910-1990