CRITIC REVIEWS
Josh Raynolds
Opaque ruby. Displays an array of intensely perfumed, mineral-accented black and blue fruit, floral, botanical herb and exotic spice aromas, along with suggestions of licorice, smoked meat and olive. Shows serious depth as well as unlikely energy, offering palate-staining kirsch, cassis, bitter chocolate, olive paste and violet pastille flavors that slowly turn sweet and become more energetic through the back half. Youthfully gripping tannins add grip to the smoky, mineral- and spice-driven finish, which emphatically repeats the licorice and blue fruit notes.
Joe Czerwinski
Reasonably floral and red-fruited at the moment, the 2020 Cote Rotie la Landonne may not have the richness and power of the very best vintages, but it's still a terrific wine. Tasted as a barrel sample drawn just hours earlier, in addition to those violets and raspberries, it's also marked by the vineyard's characteristic dark notes of roasted meat, black olives and espresso, ample tannins and a long, silky-textured finish.
JancisRobinson.com
Whole-bunch fermented and aged in demi-muids (no more than 10% new). Cask sample. Liquorice, peaty smoke, dark fruits and lavender. Powerful and rich palate with pronounced firm and muscular dense tannins and good fruit too. Layered and clean but very young. Needs lots of time. (AC)