E. Guigal : La Landonne 2019

Firing on all cylinders, this simmers with massive power and range. Boasts a dark, brooding core of black plum, fig paste, strappy black licorice and fruitcake flavors supported by a formidable iron spine. Chewy in feel, with grilled aniseed and warm mesquite smoke adding salty sweetness. Though its tannins are mellowing, this still has a lifetime ahead in the cellar. A showstopper. Best from 2025 through 2040. 90 cases imported.

An earthy style, with menthol, freshly turned earth and rolling tobacco. Full and dense, really quite massive. A driving, brooding style with a massive structure and huge, muscular tannins. The balance is impressive for such a huge wine, this has great length. There is some chewy oak tannin on the finish, but this will be a highly impressive wine, when it's ready. But don't open it before 2033. From lieu-dit La Landonne, on schist-clay soils with iron oxide and manganese. Fermented in stainless steel, aged in new barriques.

Still very youthful, this has a deep nose of smoke, bitter chocolate and herbal liqueur. The gigantic tannin structure on the palate will need many years of further aging to completely resolve, but the tannins are fine which gives the super-long finish an extraordinary texture, like old-fashioned velvet. So much smoke and crushed rock character! A pure syrah which is then fermented with 100% whole bunches. Matured in 100% new oak for 42 months. Drinkable now, but best from 2026, and even then you should decant it.

Inky dark in color, the wine is equally dark in its fruit profile on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, intense, powerful, balanced, refined, and stately, there is an aristocratic edge to the structure here. The intensity is off the hook. The wall of fruit is well-defined, fresh, and vibrant. The finish builds while coating your palate with its layers of deep, black, smoky fruits, roasted espresso, spice and leafy herbs. Drink from 2033-2060.

Lastly, the 2019 Côte Rôtie La Landonne is an absolutely jaw-dropping wine, and it doesn't – and won't – get any better than this magical elixir. A massive bouquet of black fruits, bloody meats, ground pepper, scorched earth, iron, and truffle all emerge from this dense, powerful monster of a Côte Rôtie that's flawlessly balanced, has perfect tannins, and sensational levels of concentration and extract. It should hit prime time in around a decade and evolve for 40-50 years.

On the palate, a tannin with all its muscles flexed, great richness for this dense, fresh wine, which will evolve slowly in bottle. Compact and demonstrative.