Sadly, there are only 175 cases of the 1999 Cote Rotie La Landonne. This is a marvelous example of the vintage. It boasts a roasted, meaty, smoky-scented nose with notions of minerals, blackberries, and underbrush. It is full-bodied, thick, and muscular, with superb extraction. This inky/purple-colored wine needs 4-6 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. Importers: New Castle Imports, Myrtle Beach, SC; tel. (843) 497-8625 and Langdon Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 861-6800

Here is a superbly rich and smooth wine. Aromas of violets and flavors of blueberries and red cherries along with dusty tannins, give this wine both immediate appeal and the promise of a good long-term future. ——R.V.(6/1/2002)—— 95