1996 Cote Rotie

The 1996 Cote Rotie Cuvee Classique displays a deep ruby color, as well as a textbook nose of cassis, pepper, flowers, toast, and bacon fat. Good acidity, excellent purity, medium body, and firm tannin give this wine a youthful style. Although drinkable, it will benefit from several more years of cellaring, and should last for a decade or more. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524

Good deep color. Aromas of raspberry, currant, violet, mocha and smoke. A bit severe today, perhaps shutting down after the bottling. But there good underlying texture here and good length for a Côte Rôtie normale.