2015 Cote Rotie Ampodium

Moving to the 2015s, all of which were tasted out of bottle, the 2015 Côte Rôtie Ampodium is well worth your time and money. Dark fruits, peppery, licorice, and ground herb characteristics flow to a full-bodied, impressively endowed, ripe, balanced 2015 that will drink nicely for 10-15 years. The son of René, Pierre Rostaing, is now taking a more leading role in this terrific estate. The 2015s are beautiful wines, but don’t discount the 2016s, which are almost as impressive.

Bottled in July, the 2015 Cote Rotie Ampodium is fairly full-bodied and quite rich. The black olive and raspberry notes verge on being jammy but are balanced by peppery spice and firm, savory tannins. Give it 5 years in the cellar to settle down, and drink it over the next decade and a half or more. For an entry-level wine, it's remarkable.

Youthful violet. Sexy, mineral-driven aromas of ripe red and dark berries, candied flowers and Indian spices show excellent clarity and lift. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering juicy, nicely concentrated black raspberry and cherry flavors and a hint of allspice. A subtle olive nuance arrives with air and carries through a long, youthfully tannic finish.