The 1994 Cote Rotie Blonde et Brune is an elegant, savory, complex wine with gamey, smoky notes, plenty of jammy black cherry and raspberry fruit, medium body, and dry tannin in the finish that is nicely balanced by the sweet oak and the vintage's opulent style. There were four separate bottlings of the 1994 Cote Rotie Blonde et Brune, all of them consistently excellent, and possibly outstanding. Anticipated maturity: now-2010. Importer: Fred Ek, Ex Cellars Wine Agencies, Solvang, CA; tel. (805) 686-9153

Beautiful wine, showing a wide range of aromas--mocha, spice, currant, cassis, toasted oak, bitter chocolate, even a touch of minty eucalyptus. Satisfying and well made, harmonious to the very end. Drink now through 2005. -PM