Cote Rotie La Mouline Guigal 2017 (750ML)

98 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "Bottled in February of 2021, the 2017 Côte Rôtie La Mouline is a seamless, exotic, perfumed, full-bodied effort that offers a classic floral character in its ripe black raspberry and blackberry fruit as well as notes of spice box, espresso, and chocolate. Co-fermented with roughly 10% Viognier, it’s all about gorgeous fruit and texture, and this cuvée has that rare ability to bring incredible richness and depth with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for 20-25 years. This reminds me slightly of the 2011 as well as the 2007. (Drink between 2026-2052)" 02/22

96 Points, Matt Walls, Decanter: "Beautifully Blonde in style, with macadamia nut and tobacco notes to the raspberry fruit. Very fine tannins on the palate, good acidity, and there's some density and body from the vintage and the Viognier. Good length, that's elongated by a subtle mineral note and resinous aspect from the fruit and oak. Just a little drying note on the tip of the tongue. You can enjoy this now, but this will age well too. The oak regime is robust - 40 months in new barriques. It's applied with skill and care, and is a strongly noticeable part of the wine. Lieu-dit Côte Blonde, from the Blonde side (gneiss bedrock)."

97 Points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous: "Saturated violet. Ripe, spice- and mineral-tinged red and blue fruits, incense, vanilla and strong violet notes are highlighted on the exotically perfumed nose. Sappy, penetrating and lively on the palate, showing impressive delineation and spicy lift to its blueberry, kirsch, floral pastille and cola flavors. Distinctly lively in character, especially in the context of the vintage, finishing with impressive power, polished tannins and echoing spice, mineral and floral notes. As usual, this wine was aged for 42 months in new French oak barrels that were coopered at Guigal. (Drink between 2027-2039)" 12/22

97-99 Points, Joe Czerwinski, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: "The 2017 Cote Rotie La Mouline delivers waves of joyous blueberry fruit, accented by complex notions of violets and dried spices. It's full-bodied yet supple and plush, showing incredible balance, complexity and texture at this early stage of its development." 12/19