2016 Côte-Rôtie Ampodium Domaine Rostaing

Moving to the 2016s and starting with the 2016 Côte Rôtie Ampodium, this beautiful, silky, incredibly elegant wine has classic notes of red and black fruits, spring flowers, hints of bacon fat as well as green olive. Medium-bodied, about as graceful and elegant as they come, with sweet tannins and a great finish, it's a no- brainer purchase to drink over the coming 10-15 years. I followed this bottle for two days and it does best with a decant if drinking any time soon.

There are 20,000 bottles of Rostaing's 2016 Cote Rotie Ampodium, so it is the cuvée most consumers are likely to encounter. It's a fine example of the appellation, offering briary notes of ripe red fruit with spice and herb shadings. It's medium- bodied, silky and fine, with attractive notes of licorice and tea on the finish that give this entry-level wine more complexity than most.

Bright violet. Expressive black and blue fruit, floral pastille and peppery spice aromas display a bright mineral quality and a suggestion of woodsmoke. Intense blueberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent clarity and spicy lift, picking up star anise and cola nuances on the back half. Delivers a serious punch of dark fruit flavor but comes off surprisingly lithe, and finishes with smooth tannins and strong tenacity.

This is very solidly built, nearly bristling with briary energy along the edges while the core of steeped plum, cherry and currant fruit cruises through. Mouthwatering savory, tobacco and olive notes score the finish, all set against a lovely floral accent in the background. Best from 2022 through 2036.- J.M.

Ganske typisk nordrhône: kærnemælk og mørk frugt i næsen og diskret fadføring. Frugten er meget rund, moden og saftig. En særdeles lækker og drikkevenlig côte rôtie fra en af appellationens store mestre. Fem store stjerner.

Kulsorte bær I næsen og sorte oliven, ristet kaffe og lidt røget bacon. Kølig og elegant. Meget flot smag med moderat tannin og en del frugtsyre. Slank, rank og kølig. Vin af klasse (også prisen!) - og perfekt til dyrekødet.