Quality 978 | Brand 958 | Economics 916 | buzz brand
Quality: Predicted life of 12 years, one of the longest drinking windows in its peer group, which averages 8 years Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 26 of the world's top wine lists, including The Modern Economics: Above its peer group average price of £91 for the 2010 vintage Production: Higher yields than its peer group average of 36 hl/ha

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017

Powerful and very ripe nose, with hints of coffee bean and toasted oak. Ripe dark fruits on the palate with some meaty notes.

Smudgy, this is their La Tâche! Lots of heady appeal. Long with violets and liquorice on the nose and then lots of sinew on the finish. Extremely youthful. Great freshness on the finish. (JR)

As to three single parcel releases, I reviewed the 2010 Cote Rotie La Mouline earlier this year, but was more than happy to taste it again (lucky me) for this report. Incorporating a full 11% of Viognier and coming from the steep, terraced vines in the Cote Blonde lieu-dit, it sports a heavenly bouquet of spring flowers, incense, violets, cured meats and sweet cassis. Full-bodied, voluptuous and as seamless as they come, Syrah just doesn’t get any more alluring, sexy or impressive. Give it 5-6 years and drink bottles over the following 2 decades or more.