1999 E. Guigal – Cote-Rotie Brune et Blonde (Northern Rhone, France) – I got this bottle on release in roughly 2002, and we opened it about a month ago.   It was dark ruby red in color with a little bricking at the rim.  The nose smelled of sweet red fruit, subtle baking spices, beef blood, and forest floor.  In the mouth, sweet red cherries are combined with cured meat, baking spices, pepper and dried leaves.  The cherries and beef continued through to the nice medium-long finish.  This wine appears to be on its plateau of maturity, where it should stay for another 10 years.  (93pts.)

Cellar gems are reviews of bottles aged in our cellar.