The 1996 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places is concentrated and rich. The wine exhibits a dark ruby color with purple nuances, and plenty of toasty pain grille notes intermixed with blackberry and raspberry fruit. The wine is medium to full-bodied and fleshy, with good acidity, but it is tannin that gives a wine structure and grip as opposed to acidity. Anticipated maturity: now-2012.
Importers: New Castle Imports, Myrtle Beach, SC; tel. (803) 497-8625 and Langdon Shiverick, Cleveland, OH; tel. (216) 861-6800