A different animal altogether is the l'Ame Soeur, which comes from schist-based soils. This sexy offering displays a Cote Rotie Cote Blonde character even though it is a vin de pays. The 2010 Syrah l-Ame Soeur VDP (100% Syrah) boasts a deep ruby/purple color along with silky, caramelized fruit, bacon fat, black raspberry, spring flower and currant notes. This fleshy, dense, superb Syrah should drink well for 5-7 years. Ogier's wines just keep getting better and better, so if you haven-t yet jumped on the Ogier bandwagon, it's time to do so. Michel Ogier, and more recently his son, Stephane, are the leading craftsmen in terms of wines from the steep hillsides north of the old Roman town of Vienne. These are still entitled to only a VDP designation, but current vintages are the finest he has yet produced.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The 2009 Syrah l'Ame Soeur VDP reveals great complexity with notes of lard, licorice, bay leaf, black raspberries and black currants. It possesses an expansive, savory mouthfeel, supple tannins, beautiful elegance and a style that could easily pass for a Cote Rotie in a blind tasting. This beauty should drink well for 7-8 years. This up and coming area of Seyssuel now has over 13 vignerons working on about 100 acres of vines. Ogier's wines just keep getting better and better, so if you haven-t yet jumped on the Ogier bandwagon, it's time to do so. Michel Ogier, and more recently his son, Stephane, are the leading craftsmen in terms of wines from the steep hillsides north of the old Roman town of Vienne. These are still entitled to only a VDP designation, but current vintages are the finest he has yet produced.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The 2007 Syrah l’Ame Soeur is another full-bodied, deeper effort displaying a dark ruby/purple color, plenty of smoky spice, spring flower, cassis, and cherry characteristics, and a delicious, seductive style. It should be consumed over the next 2-3 years. (Not yet released)The Ogier family is a fabulous success story in the northern Rhone. As I have frequently written over the last 30 years, a family of vignerons selling their entire production to negociants, gradually begins to estate bottle, first the father, Michel, and more recently the ambitious and talented son, Stephane. The results are extraordinary wines that thrill consumers. The Ogiers have taken a strong position in Syrah vineyards planted on the hillside terraces outside the old Roman city of Vienne, a few miles north of Cote Rotie. The have two totally different terroirs, La Rosine, which is Syrah planted on granite, and l’Ame Soeur, Syrah planted on schist. Both are very fine, value-priced offerings that offer a faithful introduction into the Ogier winemaking philosophy as well as to northern Rhone Syrah. The 2007 vintage was largely damaged by hail in Cote Rotie, but much of the crop was saved by three weeks of the gusty northern winds known as the Mistral in the south that occurred in September, following horrible weather in August. The vintage turned out to be far better than expected. At the time of my visit to Ogier they were leaning toward not making a Lancement in 2007 because of hail damage. They were strongly considering declassifying that wine and blending it with the Cote Rotie. The most limited production offering is named after Michel Ogier’s charming wife, Helene. It comes closest in style to Guigal’s single vineyard Cote Rotie La Turque.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The 2006 Syrah l’Ame Soeur, a more limited 500-case cuvee of 100% Syrah. A sleeper of the vintage, it tastes like a Cote Rotie with some Viognier in the blend. An exotic bouquet of flowers, jammy kirsch, cassis, licorice, and underbrush is followed by a medium to full-bodied, gorgeously proportioned wine that should drink well for 3-4 years. The Ogier family is a fabulous success story in the northern Rhone. As I have frequently written over the last 30 years, a family of vignerons selling their entire production to negociants, gradually begins to estate bottle, first the father, Michel, and more recently the ambitious and talented son, Stephane. The results are extraordinary wines that thrill consumers. The Ogiers have taken a strong position in Syrah vineyards planted on the hillside terraces outside the old Roman city of Vienne, a few miles north of Cote Rotie. The have two totally different terroirs, La Rosine, which is Syrah planted on granite, and l’Ame Soeur, Syrah planted on schist. Both are very fine, value-priced offerings that offer a faithful introduction into the Ogier winemaking philosophy as well as to northern Rhone Syrah. The 2007 vintage was largely damaged by hail in Cote Rotie, but much of the crop was saved by three weeks of the gusty northern winds known as the Mistral in the south that occurred in September, following horrible weather in August. The vintage turned out to be far better than expected. At the time of my visit to Ogier they were leaning toward not making a Lancement in 2007 because of hail damage. They were strongly considering declassifying that wine and blending it with the Cote Rotie. The most limited production offering is named after Michel Ogier’s charming wife, Helene. It comes closest in style to Guigal’s single vineyard Cote Rotie La Turque.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

The 2005 L’Ame Soeur is impeccably well-made, but more juicy, fragrant, and elegant, playing the seductress to the more masculine La Rosine. It should be drunk over the next 3-4 years. Readers will be happy to know that Stephane Ogier will be producing a Condrieu starting in the 2007 vintage.Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083