2005 Domaine René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde

Like most 2005s, Rostaing’s 2005 Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde is still backwards and tight, with bright acidity giving lift to classic notes of dark fruits, iron, violets, and minerality. Much more reserved and focused than the ’06, yet with superb mid-palate depth, awesome purity of fruit and no shortage of tannin, it needs another 3-4 years in the cellar and should be very long-lived.

Ruby-red. Deep cherry and creme de cassis aromas are complicated by cured tobacco, olive, licorice, espresso and minerals, along with a suave floral overtone. Deep, sweet and palate-saturating, offering intense dark berry and cherry flavors and a lovely energizing minerality that builds with air. Delivers serious flavor impact but has a compellingly graceful character, finishing with persistent sweetness and outstanding clarity. Rostaing thinks that this could easily go for 20 years, but "as usual, I'd prefer it younger than that-maybe 10 for me."

Deep ruby. Initially more closed than the Landonne but quickly opened to show deep, rich mulberry and kirsch aromas, with intense, exotic floral and spice accents. Really expands in the mouth, offering explosive, highly concentrated dark berry flavors. Fine, dusty tannins give shape and structure to this wine, while juicy acidity extends the finish. This is more elegant and graceful today than the Landonne, as well as richer and even longer. A standout in a great vintage.