2015 Cote Rotie Lancement

(50% new oak) Inky ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet displays spice-tinged black and blue fruits, potpourri and incense, along with hints of vanilla, olive and smoky bacon. Fleshy and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated yet lively boysenberry, cherry cola, spicecake and violet flavors enlivened by a jolt of juicy acidity. Smoothly blends richness and finesse and finishes extremely long and gently tannic, leaving floral pastille and dark berry liqueur notes behind.

A true blockbuster is the 2015 Côte Rôtie Lancement, unquestionably the finest wine I’ve tasted from this family. Black raspberries, vanilla spice, dried flowers, and classic Côte Rôtie meatiness all emerge from this full-bodied, powerful, concentrated effort that stays perfectly balanced, light on its feet, and graceful. This is what great Côte Rôtie is all about! Drink it anytime over the coming 20-25 years. Here’s what I wrote two years ago when I first tasted these 2015s from winemaker Kevin Garon: “Don’t miss the 2015s, as these are the finest wines I’ve tasted from this estate.” I stand by that statement today and I hope readers were able to latch on to a few bottles of these beauties. The 2016s don’t match the 2015s, but are still beautiful, elegant wines.

The firm, chewy 2015 Cote Rotie Lancement will require some patience, but I'm confident the wait will pay off. Complex aromas of ash, plum and spice lead into a rich, medium to full-bodied palate that's packed with ripe tannins. Plum and berry notes come through on the dusty finish, so give this several years in the cellar.