2017 Domaine René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde Magnum 1.5L, Northern Rhone

Even better than last year, the recently bottled 2017 Cote Rotie La Cote Blonde was singing when I tasted it back in July. Floral and berry notes accent mocha-tinged aromas in this medium to full-bodied wine. It's silky, long and intense, with a couple of decades of life ahead of it. It's simply difficult to describe the waves of savory complexity this wine now shows, coupled with a succulent texture and tremendous length.

98 points Joe Czerwinski robertparker.com Drink 2021-2040

Deep, brilliant ruby color. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes ripe black/blue fruits, peony, exotic spices and smoky minerals. Smooth and focused on the palate, offering deeply concentrated, yet lively black raspberry, boysenberry floral pastille, spicecake flavors and building spiciness. Finishes smooth, sappy and impressively long, with chewy tannins lending shape and grip to lingering dark berry and floral tastes.

94-96 points Josh Raynolds vinous.com July 2019