2010 Gilles Barge Côte-Rôtie Le Combard

Denser, richer and more seriously endowed with no herbaceousness, the 2010 Cote Rotie Le Combarde possesses the smoky, spicy, black cherry and black currant character of a good Cote Rotie. It should age well for a decade. Gilles Barge’s offerings are all traditionally made, old style Cote Roties, but he does appear to have made some moderate concessions by picking riper fruit, at least for the Cote Brune cuvee. 2010 is one of the finest vintages I have tasted from Barge, whose wines are often too herbaceous for my tastes. Importer: Europvin; www.europvin.com