2005 Domaine René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

Big and intense, the 2005 Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie La Landonne is bigger and more concentrated then either the ‘06 Côte Blonde or ‘06 La Landonne and offers up gorgeous notes of smoked meat, violets, pepper and copious amounts of mineral and iron to go along with its medium to full bodied palate. Concentrated and rich, this has vibrant acidity, beautiful purity and a long, finish where the quality of the wine really shows. I’d let these rest for 5 or 6 years and then drink them over the following 20 years.

The 2005 Cote Rotie La Landonne (8,500 bottles) offers the scorched earth, bacon fat, tapenade, and black fruits that come from this northern site in Cote Rotie. Tannic, superbly concentrated, and beginning to close down, this is a big mouthful of classic wine meant for long-term cellaring. Give it 4-5 years of bottle age and drink it over the following two decades. Importer: Manny Berk, The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484

Bright ruby. Explosive dark fruits on the nose, complicated by an array of pungent floral tones. A strong boysenberry quality is complicated by a deeper and even sweeter note of chewing tobacco. Really expands on the finish, picking up a spicy, peppery quality and displaying suave, silky tannins.