2015 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places

Vivid purple. Explosively perfumed aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, incense, mocha and smoky minerals. Seamless and alluringly sweet, offering concentrated dark berry liqueur, licorice candy, vanilla and cola flavors and a touch of star anise that emerges on the back half. Finishes broad and extremely long, featuring building tannins and alluring sweetness. I really like the marriage of power and finesse here.

(100 percent new oak) Inky ruby. Vibrant blackberry, cherry pit, violet pastille, licorice and smoky mineral aromas are complemented by a suave spicecake note. Concentrated, palate-staining black and blue fruit, vanilla and Indian spice flavors show excellent depth and focus, while hints of star anise and allspice build in the glass. Velvety, smoky and broad on the strikingly long, energetic finish, which is shaped by gentle, smoothly mounting tannins.