Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 23/12/2011 The beautiful 2009 Cote Rotie Cote Blonde offers up aromas of pepper, bouquet garni, spring flowers, roasted meats, black raspberries and kirsch. This fragrant, spicy, floral, opulent, voluptuously textured, medium to full-bodied 2009 possesses terrific purity (a hallmark of all the Rostaing wines). It, too, should drink nicely for 10-15 years, but there is no reason to delay your gratification. Rene Rostaing’s elegant style is well-displayed in both 2010 and the riper, more fleshy, exuberant 2009 vintage. Always the sexiest wine in Rostaing’s cellar is the Cote Rotie Cote Blonde. It includes 3-4% co-fermented Viognier and is always the most seamless wine resembling haute couture. Importer: Manny Berk, The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484

Deep, vivid ruby. Explosively perfumed aromas of red and dark berry preserves, potpourri, licorice and incense, with intense minerality adding lift and an incisive quality. Black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors shows a striking marriage of depth and vivacity and are complemented by suave floral pastille and fruitcake notes. Refuses to let go on the finish, which lingers with serious fruity, floral persistence.

Served blind alongside Guigal's La Mouline 2009. Another sweet, ripe 2009 with strong purple-fruit flavours. Hedonistic. At peak? (JR)