M. Chapoutier, Cote Rotie, La Mordoree 2016

A blend of old vines in the lieux-dits of Côte Brune and Côte Blonde, the 2016 Cote Rotie la Mordorée shows a bit of cedary oak up front (it spent 18 months in 30% new barriques). It's full-bodied and ripe on the palate, with herb-tinged red fruit notes that show mammoth complexity and a fine, silky, long finish.

Opaque ruby. Potent dark berry, exotic spice, potpourri and smoky mineral aromas display impressive energy and pick up olive and smoked meat nuances with air. Sappy, deeply concentrated blackberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors stain the palate and show noteworthy energy and focus. Sweet and seamless in texture, finishing with strong, floral-driven persistence and fine-grained tannins that add gentle final grip.