The 2007 Cote Rotie Les Grandes Places is attractive in an up-front, oaky manner. It possesses some sweet cherry and black currant fruit, but the oak component dominates at present. There is plenty of concentration for a 2007, but this will be a wine to drink during its first 7-8 years of life. Jean-Michel Gerin used to sell 30% of his production in the United States, but when I visited him in late 2007, he was no longer exporting his wines to America. He told me he was not getting paid, and I suspect he is only one of what will undoubtedly be many casualties of the international economic crisis. It is sad to see consumers being denied access to some of the best wines being made in France as well as elsewhere.Importer: Bond Street Imports (www. bondstreetimports.com)