Côte Rôtie Belle Hélène, Domaine Stéphane Ogier 2001

The renowned Belle Helene cuvee is fashioned from a northern Cote Rotie hillside vineyard in a sector called Rozier. Aged 30 months in 100% new French oak with little racking, it is bottled without any clarification. Of the single vineyard Cote Roties, this offering comes closest to resembling one of Guigal's "La-La's." The dense blue/purple-colored 2001 Cote Rozier Cuvee Belle Helene displays a sweet nose of black raspberry liqueur intertwined with creme de cassis, licorice, dried herbs, and toasty vanilla. Full-bodied and rich, with fabulous concentration as well as texture, it requires 4-5 years of cellaring, and should evolve for 15+ years.