2015 Cote Rotie Cote Blonde

The 2015 Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde is up there with the crème de la crème and is a sensational effort that has more than a passing resemblance to the 1999. Huge aromatics of black raspberries, exotic flowers, crushed rocks and spice just jump from the glass. This full-bodied, exuberant, incredibly sexy beauty has sweet tannin, a weightless, seamless texture, awesome purity fruit and a finish that won’t quit. It has a youthful exuberance that makes it irresistible now, but it needs 4-6 years of cellaring and will cruise for 20-25 years. The son of René, Pierre Rostaing, is now taking a more leading role in this terrific estate. The 2015s are beautiful wines, but don’t discount the 2016s, which are almost as impressive.

I give Rostaing's 2015 Cote Rotie La Cote Blonde the slightest of edges over the La Landonne for its more aromatic, floral nose. It shows that same unfathomable depth and richness married to a sense of weightlessness and elegance that marks the La Landonne, and it also shows those wonderfully pure raspberry flavors. It's lush, velvety and incredibly long on the finish. Collectors fortunate enough to grab some of each will have great fun comparing the two over the next 30 years or so.

Saturated ruby. A complex, expansive bouquet displays aromas of fresh dark berries, cherry liqueur, incense and candied violet, and a smoky Indian spice nuance builds in the glass. Concentrated yet energetic and precise, offering intense blackberry and bitter cherry flavors supported by a spine of vibrant minerality. Clings with superb tenacity on the youthfully tannic, floral-dominated finish, leaving behind smoky mineral and star anise notes.