Côte Rôtie La Mouline, Etienne Guigal 2017

Bottled in February of 2021, the 2017 Côte Rôtie La Mouline is a seamless, exotic, perfumed, full-bodied effort that offers a classic floral character in its ripe black raspberry and blackberry fruit as well as notes of spice box, espresso, and chocolate. Co-fermented with roughly 10% Viognier, it’s all about gorgeous fruit and texture, and this cuvée has that rare ability to bring incredible richness and depth with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for 20-25 years. This reminds me slightly of the 2011 as well as the 2007.

The 2017 Cote Rotie La Mouline has developed quickly and is already approachable—although I wouldn't be surprised to see it close down shortly, only to emerge even better a decade from now. Complex, charming scents of jasmine, sandalwood, raspberries and stone fruit appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is silky-textured, with a long, plush finish.

The 2017 Côte Rôtie La Mouline is more upfront and expressive, which is certainly in the style of this terrific vintage. Loads of spiced meats, chocolate, spring flowers, and assorted red and black fruits all soar from the glass. With full-bodied richness, incredibly complexity and nuance, building tannins, and just loads of upfront sex appeal, it’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 30 years or more.

The 2017 Cote Rotie La Mouline delivers waves of joyous blueberry fruit, accented by complex notions of violets and dried spices. It's full-bodied yet supple and plush, showing incredible balance, complexity and texture at this early stage of its development.