Ogier/Michel & Stéphane Côte-Rôtie Lancement 2001

96 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Saturated ruby-red. Knockout nose combines black fruits, black pepper, tar, roast coffee, bitter chocolate, mocha and brown spices. Then peppery and dense in the mouth, with uncanny verve for a wine with such a velvety texture and compelling sweetness. A wine of great finesse and nuance, but also distinctly large-scaled for an example from the Cote Blonde. Extremely broad and long on the back end, with lingering notes of roasted herbs and tapenade and a peppery quality to its tannins. Great syrah. I'd love to stick this wine in a blind tasting with the most sought-after cult shirazes from Australia This wine would have the sheer density to compete even with Aussie examples at 16% alcohol, and in terms of energy, primary fruit character and complexity of soil tones, this would leave the Australian wines in its dust. (Jan 2005)"

96 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Fully mature, the wine is packed with smoky cherries, spice, tobacco, herbs, and peppery red plums. Vibrant, fresh, and lively, the concentrated peppery red berries, crushed rocks, olives and herbs in the finish lingers. Drinking at peak, no decanting needed, just pop, pour and enjoy. Drink from 2024-2032. (Feb 2024)"