Cote Rotie, "rapport qualité prix"?

Hi all --

Wondering what you'd nominate as the best Cote Roties (and best millisimes) that balance quality with price. Some of these are astronomically expensive, but I don't know these wines at all and would like to pick up a couple examples that show the AOC off without dissolving the wallet.

Jamet, any year. 2006 available here for €45. Top quality at sensible prices.

[David M. Bueker]

That is a tough one. Cote Rotie has gotten somewhat out of hand. At the risk of once again forfeiting wine hipster credentials I would say that the Guigal Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde is pretty good for the price. Of course that's all relative since it used to be much cheaper. Jasmin is pretty good and not outrageous. The prices I have seen on Jamet and Rostaing in the USA make me what to choke.

I'd argue with Guigal Brune et Blonde - I really like the wines (03 aside, the other vintages I've had are lovely and an '85 B-et-B - the first birthyear wine I've enjoyed, as a side note - was stunning) but these days the prices are usually in the 50-70 range when I've seen them.

I think that Gaillard makes very good wines at a much better price tag (got some stuff from 99, 00 and seen some 04s from him all in the mid 30s - USD), and if you're paying in the mid-50s, then Gangloff's La Barbarine or Ogier are both lovely.

You're in France so you have a better chance than those of us abroad at finding newer smaller domaines with lower prices.

i think Jasmin is classic, but there are lots of good ones. why not travel to the marche in ampuis in january and taste and buy for yourself? anyway, here are the names of producers i have bought. note that i watch my pennies and that i don't like oak or brett as they interfere with the typicity:

remellier
pichon
faury
gerin
du montlys
ogier
chambeyron-manin
gallet
niero
champet
jamet

The prices I have seen on Jamet and Rostaing in the USA make me what to choke.

David, what are they asking near you for Jamet 2006? Maybe there is an opportunity for some arbitrage here .

i think Jasmin is classic, but there are lots of good ones. why not travel to the marche in ampuis in january and taste and buy for yourself? anyway, here are the names of producers i have bought. note that i watch my pennies and that i don't like oak or brett as they interfere with the typicity:

Surprising you mention Gerin in there; I like his wines but I do find the oak quite prominent (and think those wines really need a decade at least before the oak settles down and integrates - a bottle of 01 Champin le Seigneur was rather woody and felt almost like a New World red).

Someone from France asking us Yankee's on buying decisions for QPR Cote Rotie --
Is this a troll?

Like others have mentioned, you will get much better deals over there than anything we could suggest to you. I've always liked Jasmin and Gallet. Ogier is fine, but priced ridiculously high now, as are Jamet and Rostaing. But that Salon des vins d'Ampuis sounds like a perfect road trip for you, and you can report back to us on what you find.

Someone from France asking us Yankee's on buying decisions for QPR Cote Rotie --
Is this a troll?

Hey, aren't there some fellow Canucks on this board? Sheesh. As for the salon des vins in January, my crushing news is that we're leaving France at the end of this month for good . (We're actually Torontonians in disguise.) No more cheap nuthin' especially with the LCBO dictating what we can drink and at what price in Ontario.

Anyway, will keep my eye out for some of the suggestions (I'm still trying to put together a homebound cellar) and let you know what happens.

salil - re the gerin you mention: i believe that is one of his 'better' cuvees. i usually prefer the basic wines of all producers because of the oak. they all seem to think that more oak makes better wine.

Texier can be within reason.

Hey, aren't there some fellow Canucks on this board?

Whats up eh, Michael? Am I missing something here!