M. Chapoutier, Cote Rotie, La Mordoree 2012

While I loved Michel's 2012 Cote Rotie la Mordoree from barrel, it blew me away from bottle, and I think bares more than a passing resemblance to his 1991. About as elegant and seamless as they come, it exhibits incredible notes of violets, peppery spice, spring flowers, rose petal and darker berry fruit. This is followed by a full-bodied, sweetly fruited, expansive Cote Rotie that's perfectly balanced, has beautiful mid-palate density, and ultra-fine tannin that emerge on the finish. It's a blockbuster effort to drink over the coming two decades.

(all old Serine vines): Bright purple. Potent mineral- and spice-accented cherry and blackberry scents are complicated by notes of mocha, pipe tobacco and fresh flowers. Sweet and seamless on the palate, offering deeply concentrated dark fruit flavors that gain energy and spiciness with aeration. Powerful yet lithe and sharply focused, finishing very long, with strong cut and dusty tannins that sneak in late.