Delas : La Landonne 2019

The 2019 Cote Rotie La Landonne features its typical dark, meaty, espresso-like aromas, lifted by hints of raspberry and black cherry. It’s full-bodied and concentrated yet supple and relatively approachable, with soft, velvety tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish. It’s delicious now, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see it shut down for several years before reemerging at maturity, so enjoy it now or hold it for another 5+ years.

This is dark and still a bit reticent, with a cast-iron cloak around the core of dark currant, plum and blackberry paste flavors, showing lots of sweet bay leaf, anise and singed apple wood notes in the background. There's serious grip through the finish. For the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2038. 267 cases made, 40 cases imported.

Very oaky, with smoky bacon notes and wood smoke on the nose. Plump, sweetly ripe and juicy. The alcohol seems quite high, and the oak leads to quite a sweet effect on the finish, with tobacco and floral notes. From lieu-dit La Landonne, on schist soils with iron oxide, fermented in stainless steel, aged in new and one-year-old barrels.

A nose slightly spicier and more refined than the 2020; the sunny character of the vintage suits the terroir well. The palate is harmonious and consistent, with fresh, velvety tannins and intense length.

Fresh aromatic layers of mint sit atop crushed red cherries and wild strawberries, with light clove and thyme on the nose. The palate is rich and enticing with black cherries, plums, rhubarb, pomegranate seeds, black olives and freshly picked rosemary leaves. Tremendous texture, structure, and refreshing acidity carry this wine to a robust finish of orange zest and black tea leaves.