2013 Côte-Rôtie Brune et Blonde Guigal

Very dark. Juicy and round and sinewy. A bit cool on the finish and slightly pinched for the moment. Drink 2018-2026.

Super peppery, dried red plums are bathed in fine-ground dark spices and toasty, cedary woody aromas. The palate brings very plush, even and supple tannins that carry fresh, ripe raspberry and red plum flavors in a laid-back, attractive style. Drink now.

All the 2013 Côte Rôties were tasted out of bottle. Starting out, the 2013 Côte Rôtie Brune Et Blonde, the largest production cuvée, has a medium-bodied, elegant, finesse-driven style as well bright acidity. With top-notch complexity in its raspberry, flowers, peppery spice, and herbal aromas and flavors, drink it anytime over the coming decade.

Already bottled and just about on the market, the 2013 Côte Rôtie Brune et Blonde possesses a medium-bodied, fresh, focused style to go with notable concentration, high, yet integrated acidity and classy notes of white pepper, charred meats, damp earth and darker berry fruits. Give it a few years and drink through 2025.

Bright violet. Powerful dark fruit, violet pastille, olive and candied licorice aromas are lifted and sharpened by peppery spice and smoky mineral notes. Coats the palate with nicely concentrated, smoke-tinged boysenberry, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors that become livelier with air. Shows impressive clarity and seamless texture and finishes very long and sappy; chewy tannins build slowly and fold into the sweet dark fruit.

Especially for the vintage, this is chock-full of lightly mulled plum, black currant and raspberry fruit laced liberally with singed alder and juniper threads. Lots of smoldering tobacco and dark tea notes through the finish, with a sanguine element as well. Best from 2019 through 2028.-J.M