E. Guigal Syrah Côte-Rôtie Château d'Ampuis 2005

The 1999 Cote Rotie Chateau drsquo;Ampuis is the finest example yet of this blend fashioned from six hillside vineyards (La Garde, La Clos, La Grande Plantee, La Pommiere, Pavillon Rouge, and Le Moulin). Aged in both barrel and large foudre for 30 months prior to bottling, there are approximately 3,000 cases produced. The fabulous 1999 boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with a sweet nose of roasted herbs, bacon, licorice, smoke, blackberries, cherry liqueur, and toast. Full-bodied and unctuously-textured with hints of new saddle leather, tapenade, and creme de cassis, this large-scaled, well-delineated 1999 should hit its stride in 4ndash;5 years, and last for two decades.

If the 2006 represents a 1991-ish feminine offering, the 2005 Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis is a macho, masculine-styled effort. Dense, concentrated, and powerful, with gamy black currant, spice box, bacon fat, and herb notes, this chewy, tannic, enormously promising requires 3–4 years of cellaring, and should drink well over the following two decades or more.

Guigalrsquo;s Chateau drsquo;Ampuis, which was launched in 1995, is nearly as spectacular as his single vineyard offerings (La Mouline, La Turque, and La Landonne). There are 2,500 cases of this offering, produced from a blend of hillside vineyards (La Garde, La Clos, La Grande Plantee, La Pommiere, Pavillon Rouge, and Le Moulin). The 1997 Cote Rotie Chateau drsquo;Ampuis was bottled a year ago and is now in the marketplace. Its dense ruby color is followed by gorgeous aromas of chocolate intermixed with road tar, cassis, smoke, and coffee. It is low in acidity, but ripe and concentrated with a voluptuous texture. This stunning Cote Rotie is more developed and forward than the 1995, 1996, or 1998. Anticipated maturity: 2004ndash;2018.

Rock-solid, with a great core of dark plum and fig woven with incense, Turkish coffee, melted licorice and mineral notes. The long finish lets the mouthwatering acidity carry it all nicely. There’s impressive drive and density. Best from 2010 through 2020.

The 1999 Cocirc;te Rocirc;tie Chateau drsquo;Ampuis has put on additional weight, and is the most awesome effort Guigal has produced under this brand name. All of the component parts were tasted, several of which bordered on perfection, particularly La Pommiere, Pavillon Rouge, and Le Moulin. The sumptuous 1999 boasts a spectacularly sweet perfume of jammy blackberry and cassis fruit intertwined with smoke, tapenade, and new saddle leather notes. It is unctuously-textured, explosively rich, and amazingly well-delineated for a wine of such size and richness. This is an exquisite Cocirc;te Rocirc;tie that should drink well young yet age nicely for two decades.

Bright ruby. Drop-dead gorgeous aromas of raspberry, spicecake, potpourri and incense. Round, sappy and sweet, with deeply concentrated red fruit flavors, melting tannins and energetic mineral snap. An exotic candied floral quality gains power with air and carries through the finish, which is strikingly pure and lively. Very impressive, pure wine with wonderful balance.

Bright medium ruby. Knockout liqueur-like nose combines black raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, black cherry and licorice, with just a suggestion of surmaturite. Lush, silky and seamless on the palate, with a deep flavor of dark chocolate. Offers great volume without any excess weight. Powerful but not hot. Finishes with superb length and richness. The best vintage yet for this bottling.