Brilliant ruby-red. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes fresh dark berries, cherry pit, incense and pungent flowers, and a smoky bacon nuance builds in the glass. Concentrated but lively and precise, offering energetic blackberry and bitter cherry flavors and an undercurrent of vibrant minerality. Clings with outstanding tenacity on the youthfully tannic finish, leaving behind smoky mineral and floral pastille notes.

Another wine that defies the more mid-weight style of the vintage, Michel’s 2014 Côte Rôtie La Mordorée sports an inky purple/blue color to go with jammy, ripe, sexy aromas and flavors of black olives, crushed violets, as well as black and blue fruits. Thick, full-bodied and thrillingly pure, it should be approachable on release yet also evolve gracefully.