Michel Ogier, Cote Rotie Belle Helene Vintage:2017

Michel Ogier, Cote Rotie Belle Helene Vintage:2017Glass staining ruby. Powerful, spice accented aromas of fresh black and blue fruits, candied violet, licorice and olive paste, along with a hint of exotic spices that builds steadily in the glass. Sweet, palate staining cassis, boysenberry, floral pastille and star anise flavors turn livelier with air. Impressively concentrated but surprisingly lively thanks to its spine of smoky minerality. Finishes sappy, seamless and impressively long, with

and more recent wines

The 2010 Sociando Mallet has a well defined

It was bottled in July 2019

Terrific and worth a special search to find though be aware that this youthfully austere effort will required extended cellaring

The Villero is a balanced and polished Barolo that opens to nicely integrated fruit and spice tones

Deceptively medium in body

Cabernet Sauvignon dominates this wine with 90%

(90-93)/2024+

Fratelli Alessandria keeps its Barolo in oak casks for three years

backward and brooding nose reluctantly gives up hints of very earthy dark pinot fruit nuanced by a distinct animale hint that merges into broad-shouldered flavors that offer excellent volume and concentration that finishes with just a hint of dryness and plenty of minerality

but as always

The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins