Saturated ruby. Cherry-cola, blackberry, candied flowers and a hint of olive on the spice- and smoke-tinged nose. Fleshy and broad in the mouth, offering bitter cherry, dark berry and fruitcake flavors that become livelier and sweeter as the wine opens up. Shows fine detail and resonating florality on a very long, smooth finish that's shaped by discreet, well-knit tannins.

The 2017 Côte Rôtie Brune Et Blonde is terrific and certainly an outstanding wine. Offering plenty of red and black fruits as well as notes of licorice, flowers, and spice, it has supple, seamless tannins, medium to full-bodied richness, and a great finish.

As a standard-bearer for the appellation—it is the region's largest-production wine by a good margin—Guigal's 2017 Cote Rotie Brune et Blonde is a solid success. Scents of red raspberries and green olives mingle with hints of violets and cracked pepper on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is smooth, silky and suave. The finish boasts enough dusty tannin to support medium-term aging, while the complex fruit and savory notes linger elegantly.