One of the treats when tasting through the profound C?te R?ties made by Marcel Guigal was the opportunity to taste all of the bottled 1995's. Reviewed in previous issues, they are even better from bottle than they were during their upbringing (a characteristic of many Guigal wines). The 1995 C?te R?tie Chateau dAmpuis is the stuff of legends and is every bit as compelling as readers might expect. This single vineyard wine will have at least 15 years of longevity.

The 1995 Cote Rotie Chateau d'Ampuis, which is just being released to the marketplace, is a sensational offering. The bottled wine is even better than its individual component parts. It boasts a dense, saturated deep ruby color, as well as a flamboyant, intense bouquet of crushed pepper, Provencal herbs, black raspberry jam, and smoky sweet oak. The wine is medium to full-bodied, with good underlying acidity, but much more voluptuous and unctuous than it appeared to be from cask. Long, concentrated, and explosively rich, this wine may merit an even higher score after it has had some time to mesh together in bottle. It is a terrific Cote Rotie to drink over the next 10-15+ years. Importer: Fred Ek, Ex Cellars Wine Agencies, Solvang, CA; tel. (805) 686-9153

Very seductive. A beautiful, full-bodied, full-throttle Syrah with much personality. Offers layers of earthy currant, animal, mineral and anise character. Lacks a bit in concentration to rate higher, but what's here is delicious. Medium-intense finish and supple tannins make it tempting upon release. Drink now through 2005. -PM