Côte Rôtie La Landonne, Etienne Guigal 2006

The most intense and opaque purple-colored effort is the 2006 La Landonne. More primordial than either the La Mouline or La Turque, it exhibits notes of asphalt, blackberries, charcoal, truffles, roasted meats and creme de cassis. Full-bodied as well as extraordinarily pure and rich, it is approachable, but will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and last 30-40 years.

Saturated ruby. Smoky cassis and mulberry on the nose, with licorice and incense notes adding complexity. Impressively concentrated and energetic, offering sweet dark fruit flavors and notes of bitter cherry and violet pastille. As deep as the Turque but more expressive, with strong finishing minerality and persistent sweetness and spiciness.

Extremely dark crimson and the nose was so over the top it seemed almost oxidised. Very wild and austere and tannic at the moment. This wine has no desire whatsoever to charm now. Go away, it seems to be saying.

The 2006 Cote Rotie La Landonne may merit a three digit score by the time it is bottled. A dense purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary bouquet of burning embers, espresso roast, black currants, blackberry liqueur, and pain grille. With aeration, bacon fat and licorice characteristics also emerge. The sweetness of the tannin, the extraordinary intensity of the flavors, and the remarkable finish suggest this is another legendary effort from Marcel Guigal and his son, Philippe.