2003 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places

The outrageously rich, full-bodied 2003 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places boasts an inky/purple color as well as a rich, sumptuous nose of creosote, camphor, blackberries, minerals, acacia flowers, and pain grille. A wine of enormous richness, generosity, and complexity, it should age effortlessly for 15 or more years. Importers: New Castle Imports, Myrtle Beach, SC; tel. (843) 448-9463

Inky, saturated ruby. Pungent, spicy aromas of creme de mure, bay leaf, licorice and cracked pepper; more expressive than the Landonne. Round and silky on the palate, with surprising finesse for a wine with such volume. Finishes very long and sweet, with some sexy oak notes.

Bright, saturated ruby-red. The most minerally and floral on the nose of the 2003 trio, showing very ripe aromas of blackberry and blueberry jam, licorice, pepper, violet and gunflint. Quite suave and aromatic in the mouth, with black and blue fruits complemented by leather, pepper and minerals. Large-scaled, mouthfilling wine, with much more volume than usual for this cuvee The longest of these 2003s, finishing with big but smooth tannins and lingering notes of mint and bay laurel.