1998 Cote Rotie La Mordoree

The 1998 Cote Rotie La Mordoree, a wine that spends 12 months in 100% new oak, and is made from 75-80-year old Syrah vines planted on both the Cote Blonde and Cote Brune (some are adjacent to Guigal's La Turque), exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color in addition to a spectacular nose of grilled toast, cured olives, cassis, fried bacon, and smoke. Feb 2001, www.robertparker.com

Bright ruby. Intensely spicy aroma of sappy cassis, raspberry, mocha, licorice and pungent oak. Very tightly wrapped and dominated by its structure. Extremely primary. Very long and firmly tannic on the aftertaste.

The 1998 Cote Rotie La Mordoree, a wine that spends 12 months in 100% new oak, and is made from 75-80-year-old Syrah vines planted on both the Cote Blonde and Cote Brune (some are adjacent to Guigal's La Turque), exhibits an opaque ruby/purple color in addition to a spectacular nose of grilled toast, cured olives, cassis, fried bacon, and smoke. As it sits in the glass, additional nuances emerge. Deep, full-bodied, powerful, and concentrated, this 1998 is already approachable. The unctuous texture and long, 45-second finish suggest even greater promise for the future. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-89000