Guigal Cote-Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis 2018

JD97-100: Lastly, the 2018 Côte Rôtie Château D'Ampuis is going to flirt with perfection and is about as classic Côte Rôtie as they come. Lots of cassis, graphite, spring flowers, vanilla, and game notes all give way to a full-bodied Côte Rôtie that’s flawlessly balanced, has silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This will be another stunning vintage for this wine that readers can find for a fraction of the cost of the top La Las. It’s worth the money.

WA95-97: Built along the lines of the 2015, the 2018 Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis is full-bodied, rich, ripe and concentrated. It seems awfully easy to drink right now, yet I'm confident the underlying structure will be revealed in time. Vanilla and mocha notes accent huge fruit—a mix of blueberries and raspberries—finishing plush and long.