The 1996 Cote Rotie La Mouline possesses the highest percentage of Viognier (17-18%) Guigal has ever included in this offering. The deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a superb bouquet of spice box, cedar, leather, honeysuckle, and jammy black fruits. It is remarkably tender and soft for a vintage that produced high acid wines. Medium-bodied, elegant, and complex, it is one of the more forward and evolved La Moulines, and thus should be drunk over the next 10-12 years. Importer: Fred Ek, Ex Cellars Wine Agencies, Solvang, CA; tel. (805) 686-9153

Warm, sweet-tasting and ripe, yet this full-bodied Northern Rhone Syrah has a firm, muscular structure, showing plum, black cherry, licorice, cassis, mocha, chestnut and grilled meat flavors along with some rosemary. Long finish is slightly hot. Should improve with time. Best from 2003 through 2010. 415 cases made. -PM