2018 Stéphane Ogier Côte-Rôtie La Viallière

While part of the lieux-dits, the 2018 Côte Rôtie La Viallière is just about pure perfection and is as good as anything out there. Cassis, black raspberries, toasted spices, and sappy flowers all define the bouquet, and it has full-bodied richness, building tannins, and a gorgeous, balanced profile that needs to be tasted to be believed. It’s not a blockbuster and shines just as much for its purity and elegance as power. It’s another stunning wine in the lineup.

Assertively perfumed, mineral-accented blackberry, boysenberry, incense and smoky bacon qualities on the nose. Juicy, penetrating and alluringly sweet, offering concentrated cassis and cherry liqueur, violet candy, olive and licorice flavors and a touch of bitter chocolate that sneaks in on the back half. Finishes chewy and extremely long, with building tannins and repeating floral and mineral notes. 100% whole clusters.

From a Grand Cru terroir in the norther portion of the appellation, the 2018 Côte Rôtie La Vialliere reveals a saturated purple color as well as a sexy, pedal-to-the-metal style carrying lots of blue fruits, liquid flower, violets, and rocky, mineral aromas and flavors. It’s a big, full-bodied, tannic, powerhouse Côte Rôtie that’s going to require patience. Unquestionably, one of the most exciting domaines in the world of wine today is that of superstar winemaker Stephane Ogier, who continues to purchase and plant new vineyards throughout Côte Rôtie and the Northern Rhône. I was blown away by his 2017s, and his Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage, as well as one of the greatest Côte Rôties I’ve had the opportunity to taste. While it’s still in barrel, the Côte Rôtie Belle Helene is another wine with perfection written all over it. In general, his 2017s shows ripe, expressive aromatics and tons of fruit, yet they have a firm, structured vibe on the palate and need bottle age. The 2018s, which are from a vintage compared to 1991 by Stéphane, show a slightly more rounded, seamless profile with silkier tannins. These wines shine for their purity of fruit as well as balance. While the expensive releases get all the attention, don’t miss the La Rosine, L’Ame Soeur, Saint Joseph, or Côte Rôtie Mon Village from this estate. These are terrific wines that offer loads of character and represent smoking values for the true wine lovers and wine drinkers out there.