Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene Michel et Stephane Ogier 2010 (750ML)

100 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "Every bit as good as the 2009 yet in a dramatically different style, the 2010 Côte Rôtie La Belle Hélène reveals a dense purple hue as well as incredibly pure, vibrant aromatics of crème de cassis, smoked earth, menthol, graphite, and forest floor. Full-bodied, deep, concentrated, and perfectly balanced, it has flawlessly integrated oak, ripe, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. This beauty evolves with time in the glass and is just a complex, balanced, insanely good wine that tops out my scale. As with the 2009, I wish every reader was able to taste this at least once in their life. It's clearly in its prime drinking window yet has another two decades of life. (Drink between 2023-2043)" 05/23

98 Points, Panel Tasting, Decanter: "A completely family-run estate, the Ogiers previously sold their grapes to Chapoutier and Guigal, before beginning to produce their own wines in the 1980s. Joining his father Michel in the business in 1997, Stéphane Ogier studied in Beaune for five years as well as a stage in South Africa, and is one of Côte Rôtie's youngest yet highest-regarded winemakers. From the Côte-Rozier vineyard, La Belle Hélène is only made in very good years. The wine sees 30 months of ageing in new oak, with a maximum of 2,100 bottles produced each vintage. Christian Honorez: Lovely perfumed nose, so expressive with violet and a mix of spices. Incredible flavours, complex and lengthy. So much there; some meat, iodine, other minerals, flowers. Exceptional. (Drink between 2020-2031)" 10/19

100 Points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate: "The 2010 Cote Rotie La Belle Helene is perfection. In this vintage, Ogier cut back the barrel aging time from 32 months in largely new oak casks to 18 months. Ogier’s remarkable flexibility depending on vintage conditions and the quality of the fruit is admirable. He thinks this may be the greatest bottle of wine he has ever made, and it’s hard to disagree. An inky/purple color is followed by notes of pen ink, graphite, forest floor, licorice and abundant black and blue fruits. There is little evidence of new oak because of the extravagant richness and wealth of ripe fruit. The tannins, acidity, alcohol and wood are perfectly integrated into this exceptional wine. It will benefit from 5-6 years of cellaring and keep for 25-30+ years."