Guigal's 1987 La Mouline is sensational. Considering the vintage, this must be the greatest wine produced in France in 1987. The color is a youthful purple, and the nose offers up sweet, pure aromas of jammy black raspberries, smoke, and honeysuckle, and vague whiffs of apricots. Thick, rich flavors coat the palate in a seamless, velvety-textured manner. This medium- to full-bodied, marvelously concentrated wine has no hard edges, and is the epitome of voluptuousness and sumptuousness. This has been a glorious La Mouline to drink since its birth, and it shows no signs of age. Anticipated maturity: now-2007. Last tasted 8/96.

Extraordinary effort for a difficult vintage. This is lush with toasty oak and ripe with blackberry and licorice flavors. Drink now through 2000.--Guigal Cote-Rotie vertical. 300 cases made. -TM