2018 Cote Rotie La Madiniere

Saturated violet. A highly fragrant bouquet evokes fresh black and blue fruits, exotic spices, olive and candied flowers, and a smoky mineral element builds as the wine opens up. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering intense, mineral-accented boysenberry, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors and a touch of licorice. The floral note returns on the impressively long finish, which features well-knit tannins and lingering spiciness. It's not common to see so much Viognier – or any Viognier at all, for that matter – in a Côte-Rôtie from the Côte-Brune.