2012 Côte-Rôtie La Landonne Domaine Rostaing

Spicy and floral nose - violets. Very nicely balanced. Some firmness on the finish. Good acidity, and vibrant, if not the most intense. Good long savoury finish. 2014 to 2023.

Getting a big "Wow" in the notes, the 2012 Cote Rotie la Landonne offers additional richness, concentration and depth, with notes of lots of floral and violet notes intermixed with cassis, cruhsed rock and pepper. Full- bodied, concentrated and with building tannin, it needs 4-5 years in the cellar and will keep for 20-25+.

Opaque ruby. Exotic aromas of dark berry liqueur, fruitcake, anise and potpourri. Lush and expansive on the palate, displaying sweet blackberry and blueberry flavors and a suave floral pastille nuance. Becomes spicier with air, picking up star anise and allspice notes that linger on the long, youthfully tannic finish.

Glass-staining ruby. Potent, smoke-tinged black and blue fruit scents, along with notes of pencil lead, violet and allspice. Spicy and incisive on the palate, offering vibrant blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors that put on weight with air. Shows excellent clarity and power on the extremely long, spice-laced finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and a whiplash of candied flowers. - Josh Raynolds .

A tangy, racy style, with fresh cherry and plum fruit lined with subtle sandalwood and incense notes. Lingering sanguine and white pepper hints show on the finish, with a sneakily long iron edge. The grip emerges in the end, but the core of fruit is a bit shy on depth. Best from 2016 through 2022. 500 cases made. -JM .