2010 Domaine Michel Ogier Côte-Rôtie Lancement

The 2010 Cote Rotie Lancement flirts with perfection, but, sadly, only six barrels (1,600 bottles) were produced. A sublime wine with a stunning nose of spring flowers, apricot marmalade, creme de cassis and raspberry liqueur, it is a full-bodied, inky, incredibly rich, complex, multidimensional red to drink over the next 15+ years. Stephane Ogier, tall and blond with rugged, Brad Pitt-like good looks, is the next generation of young, ambitious, well-traveled children from family-owned estates. Learning his trade and working next to his father, who is now fully retired, Stephane Ogier has moved confidently and dramatically to expand this estate from the Cote Rotie holdings to their vineyards that go into La Rosine and those from Seyssuel that go into l’Ame Soeur. He has also added a St-Joseph cuvee from a small parcel of vines in Malleval, next to his Condrieu holdings. Moreover, readers should not forget the recent white wine offerings from Ogier. The great success for the 2011s is attributable, as Ogier says, to harvesting seven days later than just about everyone else in Cote Rotie, in addition to aggressive green harvesting and farming practices in the vineyards. This is evident across the board as these are some of the finest 2011s I tasted in the Northern Rhone. Ogier has 12 separate Cote Rotie parcels spread along the hillsides of the Cote Blonde and Cote Brune. The 2011s were harvested between September 16 and October 8, and because of Ogier’s conservative farming practices as well as the courage it took to wait to harvest until after the rains, the quality of the fruit is outstanding. The 2010s are all remarkable wines at Ogier. Stephane Ogier also deserves accolades for what he has been able to achieve with his white wine program since he began it in 2007. There are now three cuvees, all outstanding. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, New York, NY; tel. (212) 239-1275

Glass-staining ruby. Sexy, heady bouquet displays red fruit preserves, potpourri and star anise, with notes of cinnamon and cola in the background. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering vibrant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. A tangy mineral quality gives lift and focus and carries through an impressively long, spicy finish. This wine should be bottled at 12.5% alcohol, by the way.

The 2010 Cote Rotie Lancement flirts with perfection, but, sadly, only six barrels (1,600 bottles) were produced. A sublime wine with a stunning nose of spring flowers, apricot marmalade, creme de cassis and raspberry liqueur, it is a full-bodied, inky, incredibly rich, complex, multidimensional red to drink over the next 15+ years. Dec 2012, www.robertparker.com