Côte Rôtie Brune et Blonde, Etienne Guigal 2015

Much more open and inviting than the Hermitage, Guigal's 2015 Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde boasts hallmark aromas of dried flowers, herbs, raspberries and black olives. Medium to full-bodied, it's simultaneously rich and silky, showing fine, balanced acidity on the crisp finish. Considering it may account for as much as a third of the appellation's volume, it's a remarkable achievement and testament to the tremendous quality of the vintage. Even folks who buy and cellar the La Las will want to have some of this in their cellars for early drinking. 2018 - 2030

The 2015 Côte Rôtie Brune Et Blonde is a step up and one of the top vintages for this cuvée which, given how good 2015 is, should surprise no one. This beauty offers deep, layered notes of blackberry and cassis fruits, ground herbs, licorice, and hints of spring flowers. It’s medium to full-bodied, has terrific mid-palate depth, and needs 2-4 years of bottle age to hit prime time.