Cote Rotie Grandes Places, Clusel-Roch 2020

Dark, bright-hued purple. Heady black and blue fruit, violet, incense and smoky mineral aromas are complemented by hints of licorice and exotic spices. Appealingly sweet and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated but almost shockingly lively black raspberry, blueberry, floral pastille, smoky bacon and fruitcake flavors that show sharp delineation and mineral- and spice-driven lift. Steadily building tannins give shape to the mineral-tinged finish, which emphatically echoes the blue fruit, floral and spice notes.

Lastly, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Les Grandes Places is also from the schist soils in the northern part of the appellation and reveals a more opaque plum/purple color as well as notes of black raspberries, iron, crushed violets, and spring flowers. The most complete wine in the lineup, it's flawlessly balanced, has integrated acidity, and polished yet substantial tannins. Pure Côte Rôtie class, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will see its 20th birthday in fine form.