2012 Cote Rotie Cuvee Classique

Vivid purple. Fresh black and blue fruits and potpourri on the expressive, expansive nose. Highly floral and spicy, with intense dark berry and bitter cherry flavors becoming sweeter with aeration. This precise wine finishes with excellent thrust, sneaky tannins and lingering floral and Asian spice notes. Rostaing pointed out that this is a perfect example of a 2012 that shows wonderfully now but that's set to shut down in "about six months," after which it should be left alone for at least three to five years.

Starting with Rene's classic Cote Rotie, the 2012 Cote Rotie Ampodium is a mostly destemmed blend from Rene's 13 different terroirs. It's aged in a combination of demi-muid and older barrels, with just 5% being new. It's smoking base cuvee that does everything right, offering up tons of sweet blackberry, wild herbs, pepper, spice and olive aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, beautifully textured and with impressive concentration, all while stay classic and elegant, it's a no-brainer purchase and will have 15-20 years of longevity.