Côte Rôtie Château d'Ampuis, Etienne Guigal 1999

The 1999 Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis is the finest example yet of this blend fashioned from six hillside vineyards (La Garde, La Clos, La Grande Plantee, La Pommiere, Pavillon Rouge, and Le Moulin). Aged in both barrel and large foudre for 30 months prior to bottling, there are approximately 3,000 cases produced. The fabulous 1999 boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with a sweet nose of roasted herbs, bacon, licorice, smoke, blackberries, cherry liqueur, and toast. Full-bodied and unctuously-textured with hints of new saddle leather, tapenade, and creme de cassis, this large-scaled, well-delineated 1999 should hit its stride in 4-5 years, and last for two decades.

The 1999 Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis is a knockout bottle of wine that gives up gorgeously mature aromas and flavors of kirsch, blackberry, game, olive and spice in its medium-bodied, seamless and elegant profile. It's a rock-star effort that's drinking at full maturity.