The Côte Brune cuvée is almost always a more focused, floral, structured wine, yet it also always seems to have another level of elegance in its tannins. The 2020 Côte Rôtie Côte Brune is no exception and has a wonderful perfume of red and blue fruits, tons of violets and peppery nuances, a kiss of iron, full-bodied richness, and just about flawless balance. It's a wine I can't wait to taste from bottle, and you should count yourself lucky if you're able to find this in the market.

Opaque violet color. Expansive, mineral-tinged aromas of vibrant red and blue fruits, incense, bacon, olive and pungent flowers are accented by an exotic Moroccan spice nuance. At once deeply concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering intense boysenberry, black raspberry, olive paste, smoked meat, five-spice powder and violet flavors that are underscored by a core of minerality. Firmly gripping tannins build steadily through a floral- and mineral-driven finish that hangs on with resonating spiciness and outstanding tenacity.

Among all the 2020 barrels, the 2020 Cote Rotie Cote Brune stood considerably above all the others (although the Cote Blonde wasn't that far behind). Blessed with incredibly floral, potpourri-like aromatics set against a backdrop of vibrant black raspberry fruit, it's medium to full-bodied and magically rich and intense without being weighty. Enormously long on the finish, it seamlessly combines all the elements of greatness—balance, length, intensity and complexity—into one superlative wine that should drink well for at least two decades.