An opulent, rich vintage of this cuvée, the 2019 Cote Rotie Ampodium still offers up nicely detailed, intricate floral notes layered atop raspberries and mocha. Medium to full-bodied, it's velvety and lush, with plenty of length on the finish. It should drink well for more than a decade.

Mostly blended but still in barrel, the 2018 Cote Rotie Ampodium is a terrific introduction to the C?te R?ties of Rostaing. Mulberries and licorice appear on the nose, followed by savory notes of espresso and black olives on the medium to full-bodied palate. It's silky, fine and complex, with a long, softly dusty finish. I also tasted a richer, more structured lot from la Viallière that will be blended in, along with a terrific-looking barrel from Leyat that will add floral, raspberry and mocha notes.

Hints of peppery spice and licorice add complexity to the blueberry and cassis-scented nose of the 2017 Cote Rotie Ampodium. It's medium to full-bodied, with silky but firm tannins and a long, dusty finish. It should be approachable in a couple of years but drink gracefully for a decade and a half.

There are 20,000 bottles of Rostaing's 2016 Cote Rotie Ampodium, so it is the cuvée most consumers are likely to encounter. It's a fine example of the appellation, offering briary notes of ripe red fruit with spice and herb shadings. It's medium-bodied, silky and fine, with attractive notes of licorice and tea on the finish that give this entry-level wine more complexity than most.