E Guigal, Chateau D'Ampuis Cote Rotie 2018, [Pre-Arrival]

97 points Wine Spectator
"A gorgeous core of steeped raspberry, boysenberry and fig fruit gives this a showy side. A lush structure flows underneath, while long echoes of warm ganache, black tea and espresso linger. The fruit keeps this in the suave and alluring camp overall, though there’s plenty of grip for cellaring. Best from 2022 through 2042.'

97 points Jeb Dunnuck
"I loved the 2015 Côte Rôtie Château D'Ampuis from barrel, and this beauty does not disappoint from bottle. Coming from a handful of top sites, it’s made in the same fashion as the top La Las, seeing four years in new barrels. Deep purple-hued with a classic bouquet of black raspberries, jammy blackberries, acacia flowers, vanilla bean, and spice, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a rounded, expansive mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a great, great finish. Savvy readers will stock up on this beauty. Give it 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more."

95+ points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"The 2015 Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis is remarkably dense and concentrated, packed with dark fruit and rich tannins. It's full-bodied and supple on the mid-palate, adding hints of vanilla, espresso and dried spices on the long, velvety finish. Give it another 3-4 years in the cellar, then drink it over the next two decades."

Jancis Robinson
"Samples from two of the seven lieux-dits that usually go into the Ampuis blend:
La Garde of Côte Blonde above La Mouline, a dominant element of Ch d’Ampuis.
Lots of savour and sap. Sweet and salty with real energy and zap.
La Pommière of Côte Brune, the first vineyard worked by Etienne Guigal when he was 14. In 1989, 1990 and 2005 they made Hommage à Etienne Guigal specifically for charity from this vineyard.
Serious stuff with lots of tannin and dark matter. Brooding. 18/20 points."