2017 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne Côte-Brune Guigal

More marked by pepper and licorice than the 2016, Guigal's 2017 Cote Rotie La Landonne is also richer, rounder and longer. It's full-bodied, velvety in texture and offers a kaleidoscope of dark fruit flavors that gradually morph over the course of an almost never-ending finish. This vintage, La Landonne has it all.

99P+: In a completely different style, the more blockbuster, masculine style 2017 Côte Rôtie La Landonne sports a dense purple hue as well as quintessential Landonne notes of smoked meats, black fruits, scorched earth, and chocolate. Pure, focused, and remarkably delineated on the nose, it’s full-bodied and incredibly concentrated on the palate, with building tannins, perfectly integrated oak, and a monster of a finish. It’s going to require at least a decade to be drinkable, but it’s one of those seemingly immortal Côte Rôties that will continue drinking brilliantly for longer than most of us will be around.

This is a brick house, with ample reserves of dark currant and blackberry reduction flavors lined with a strong cast iron note, while dark tobacco, olive and smoldering alder accents fill in through the finish. Built for the long haul. Best from 2025 through 2040.

Deep-pitched black currant, blueberry, cherry, floral and licorice scents are complemented by suggestions of smoky bacon, olive and allspice. Broad and deeply concentrated, offering palate-staining black/blue fruit, violet pastille, cola and exotic spice flavors that turn livelier as the wine slowly stretches out. Brawny yet energetic as well, showing superb definition and mineral thrust on a strikingly long, chewy finish that's given grip by solid but harmonious tannins.