Similarly concentrated to the 2010, yet not quite as refined or elegant, the 2009 C?te R?tie C?te Blonde offers knockout richness and depth to go with notes of graphite, sweet black raspberry, earth, and spice. Possessing exuberant and overflowing levels of fruit, with chewy, rustic, yet ripe tannin, this is a blockbuster to drink over the coming 15-20 years.

The beautiful 2009 Cote Rotie Cote Blonde offers up aromas of pepper, bouquet garni, spring flowers, roasted meats, black raspberries and kirsch. This fragrant, spicy, floral, opulent, voluptuously textured, medium to full-bodied 2009 possesses terrific purity (a hallmark of all the Rostaing wines). It, too, should drink nicely for 10-15 years, but there is no reason to delay your gratification. Rene Rostaing’s elegant style is well-displayed in both 2010 and the riper, more fleshy, exuberant 2009 vintage. Always the sexiest wine in Rostaing’s cellar is the Cote Rotie Cote Blonde. It includes 3-4% co-fermented Viognier and is always the most seamless wine resembling haute couture.Importer: Manny Berk, The Rare Wine Co., Sonoma, CA; tel. (707) 996-4484