Côte-Rôtie La Landonne

At first, it was challenging to fully appreciate this wine, but as time passed, I began to fall in love with it. Perhaps keeping it longer would have raised its score, but here we are.

The bouquet is sophisticated, with licorice, roasted meat, black pepper, dark fruits, and violets. The texture is wonderful -- powerful yet fresh; the acidity counteracts the young, grippy tannins. The balance here is top-notch. And the evolution! The way the aftertaste beautifully unfolds over time is remarkable. This is a characteristic I've noticed in each bottle of Guigal, except for the potentially spoiled one. This wine is both voluminous and delicate -- a true embodiment of how powerful doesn't have to mean overwhelming.