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E. Guigal Château d’Ampuis Côte-Rôtie 2012

E. Guigal Château d'Ampuis Côte-Rôtie 2012

Seductive aromas of sous bois, mushroom, brambly forest fruit, cloves, cardamom, and violets, or perhaps an elusive note of heliotrope flow from the glass. Of note, Guigal’s 2012 Château d’Ampuis is slightly lighter in body than the typical Cote-Rotie, but the intensity and palate tension is there—a framework of fine tannins and taught acidity that […]

Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 1998

Rene Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 1998

The epitome of old-school Côte-Rôtie, the 1998 Rostaing offers up an ever-evolving kaleidoscope of aromas: smokey bacon fat and animal notes at first, followed by sweet violets and steeped blackberries. It’s quite lean on the palate, with ultra-fine, well integrated tannins—a mark of maturity—underpinned by high acidity and gamey-green notes of dill and green peppercorn, […]

Four La La’s: La Landonne, La Mouline & La Turque at La Balena

Four La La's: La Landonne, La Mouline & La Turque at La Balena

I have, in recent past, promoted and sold Guigal’s single-vineyard Côte-Rôties, La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque (affectionately known as the La La’s) to fans and collectors all over the United States. An invitation to taste these wines is not something to pass up, an event made even more special considering the vintage—all three […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com