Ever watch Better Call Saul? Then you’ll remember the Gus Fring wine bar scene, where the wine steward pours him a glass of Syrah from Cote Rotie in the Northern Rhone Wine region, and Gus loves it. The wine in Better Call Saul is the Renee Rostaing La Landonne 1971 Cote Rotie, a legendary vintage. The wine steward leaves to find an even better bottle of Guigal from Hermitage, but Gus makes his decision to seek revenge, setting in motion the events that lead to his destruction at the hands of Walter White.
The show is fantastic, and the real wine from Cote Rotie in Northern Rhone Valley is even better- “bloody,” just it is explained to Gus. In this video, Certified Sommelier John Alanis explains Cote Rotie French wine, and opens and tastes a $200 bottle of M. Chapoutier, complete with tasting and wine reviews.
The tasting notes on a Cote Rotie are a contradiction that works, and John explains why. Some of the best wines ever made are from Cote Rotie and Hermitage in the Northern Rhone Valley, and when you taste them, you will understand why Gus Fring loves them. Gus Fring may be a fictional character, but the wines are very real, just as they are described to him.
Chapters
0:00 Northern Rhone Valley and Cote Rotie Wines
1:02 Grapes of Cote Rotie- Syrah and Viognier
4:15 Notes of Bacon Fat and Cured Meats
5:08 Cote Brune and Cote Blonde
5:51 M. Chapoutier Wine and Guigal Wine
8:02 Riedel Syrah glass
9:15 Tasting notes of Gus Fring’s favorite French wine region