Côte Rôtie, Belle Helene,

Inky ruby. Deep, pungent aromas of blackberry, blueberry, olive, tobacco and dried violet. This is yin to the Lancement's yang-or Bonnes-Mares to Lancement's Musigny, as Ogier would have it. Rich, fleshy and deep in dark fruit flavor, with late-arriving notes of smoked meat and licorice. More powerful and intense than the Lancement but I have a preference for that wine's elegance and precision right now. I'd love to compare these two wines a decade down the road.