2005 Cote Rotie Lancement

Dark ruby. Pungent bouquet offers an array of red and dark berries, exotic spices, anise and smoked meat. Deep and sweet but focused, with powerful bitter cherry and blackberry flavors, supple tannins and slow-building minerality. This doesn't want to let go of the palate. "This is more powerful than usual in '05," says Ogier.

Ruby-red. Pungent, high-pitched aromas of spicy red berries and cherry, underscored by zesty minerality and subtle smoked meat and licorice. Intensely sweet, showing superb depth to its vibrant raspberry and wild strawberry flavors; emerging notes of graphite and anise add complexity. Ogier calls Lancement "my Burgundy" and it's pretty clear why.