2017 M. Chapoutier, Cote Rotie, La Mordoree

Always a blend of Côte Brune and Côte Blonde, the 2017 Cote Rotie la Mordorée is a stunning example of this cuvée. Pencil shavings frame raspberry and blueberries on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied and concentrated, richly tannic but fully ripe, with licorice notes coming to the fore on the long, velvety finish. Super stuff.

Deep, dark ruby. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes blackberry, blueberry, vanilla, licorice and pungent flowers, and a smoky mineral nuance builds with aeration. Velvety and seamless on the palate, offering intense black and blue fruit liqueur, salty olive, candied violet and exotic spice flavors sharpened by juicy acidity and a cracked pepper flourish. Hangs on with impressive tenacity on the floral- and mineral-accented finish, which leaves star anise and cola notes behind. 60% of this fruit comes from the Côte Brune and 40% is drawn from the Côte Blonde.