The intense, tannic 2019 Cote Rotie les Grandes Places—from vines planted in 1935, 1960 and 1984—needs lots of time to come into a more pleasurable state of drinkability. It's full-bodied, concentrated, dense and tannic, but it shows promising notes of grilled plums and salted licorice on a long, long finish. It's a terrific effort, but one that will require serious patience.

From old vines (80 to 90 years old), the 2016 Cote Rotie les Grandes Places is maturing in 25% new oak. It offers up hints of toasted almond, cherry and espresso. It's a more muscular wine than the Vialliere, yet it still retains an inherent sense of lightness and elegance.

Showing the minerality and masculine character that's the hallmark of this site, the 2014 C?te R?tie les Grandes Places is medium-bodied, rich, firm and structured, with lots of black fruits, crushed rocks and pepper. It is the most backward and reserved of the three C?te R?ties, so give bottles 3-4 years and enjoy over the following decade.

I always find the wines from the Les Grandes Places lieu-dit to be masculine and burly, and the 2013 C?te R?tie les Grandes Places does nothing to change my opinion. Medium plus-bodied, nicely concentration and tannic, it gives up lots of spicy oak, crushed rocks, licorice and smoked meats. Possessing striking purity, good mid-palate depth and a great finish, it needs short term cellaring but will have upwards of two decades of longevity. It’s a high class C?te R?tie well worth checking out.