Gilman actually rates this 2021 Rochins Bonnefond’s top Cote-Rotie ever, saying:
The 2021 Côte-Rôtie “Les Rochins” from Patrick and Christophe Bonnefond is a superb young wine. The old vines the brothers have in this lieu à dit, which abuts La Landonne, have excelled in 2021 and offer up a deep and complex bouquet of black raspberry, sweet cassis, pepper, coffee bean, smoked meats, a superb foundation of dark, Côte de Brune soil tones, plenty of smokiness and just a hint of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, peppery and meaty, with a lovely core of black fruit, superb soil signature, ripe, buried tannins and outstanding length and grip on the impeccably balanced, complex finish. The old vines here really give this wine a beautiful core of fruit. Once it is ready to drink, it is going to be outstanding. Its youthful personality reminds me quite a bit of young 1985s back in the day. (Drink between 2035-2085)
Vinous has also rated every vintage of this since 2017 at 95 or better – but Gilman singles this 2021 (not yet reviewed by Vinous) as Bonnefond’s supreme achievement. Dunnuck also rated the lesser 2020 vintage 97 points, but hasn’t yet rated this even finer 2021.
The only thing that might prevent this sensational Cote-Rotie from attaining legendary status is its tiny production.
