E. Guigal, Cote Rotie, La Landonne 2005

The 2005 Cote Rotie la Landonne is utterly profound, and is certainly in the same league as the '10, '09, '03, '99, '90, '89 and other incredible vintages the list of top vintages here is almost too long to list). Inky colored, structured, tannic, massively concentrated and still with phenomenal texture and richness, it has the classic dark fruits, tapenade and meatiness of the cuvee, but at age 10, is still an infant. It needs 4-5 years and will be a 50 year wine.

Another candidate for perfection is the 2005 Cote Rotie La Landonne. Its inky/blue/purple color is followed by a perfume of confit of duck, smoked meats, blackberries, espresso, and tapenade. Incredibly complex with superb concentration, amazing depth, full body, and huge tannins in the finish, it will not be ready to drink for 5-8 years; it should keep for 30-35 years.