2008 E. Guigal, Cote Rotie, La Landonne

Saturated ruby. An impressively complex nose evokes blackberry, dark chocolate, violet and cigar tobacco, with a strong spicy note emerging with air. Offers sweet, deeply pitched dark fruit compote and floral pastille flavors that are given spine by juicy acidity. No way I'd guess from this wine's concentration that it was an '08. Finishes with superb persistence, lively notes of violets and black pepper and slow-building tannins. A really remarkable performance for the year.

The most successful of the three Cote Roties in 2008, the 2008 Cote Rotie la Landonne is a candidate for the wine of the vintage. Cigar tobacco, pepper, cured meats and abundant dark fruits all give way to a full-bodied, balanced, impressively concentrated wine that has integrated acidity, plenty of fruit and solid ripeness to its tannin. Opting to use 100% stems during the fermentation, the Guigals questioned whether the '08 should see the standard 4 years in barrel, but after continually tasting the wine (this father/son team tastes more frequently - and quickly - than just about any vignerons I know), they opted to keep it in barrel for the full duration. It's absorbed every trace of it's oak elevage and is drinking nicely today.

Robert Parker''s Wine Advocate 27/12/2012

Vinified with 100% stems, the 2008 Cote Rotie La Landonne reveals a somewhat unusual aroma of roasted nuts, but with airing, scents of coffee, rustic saddle leather, pepper, smoked meats and spice begin to emerge. Medium-bodied and lighter than normal, but still impressive, it should be consumed over the next 12 years.