(98+ points) Almost pure perfection, the 2020 Côte Rôtie La Landonne just about jumps out of the glass and offers up utterly classic La Landonne aromatics of smoked black fruits, cassis, scorched earth, cured meats, and ground pepper, with more violet and floral nuances in the background. These all carry over to the palate, where the wine is full-bodied, dense, and powerful, with building tannins and an incredibly layered mouthfeel. It's not for the instant gratification crowd, but this is one seriously good Côte Rôtie.

Opaque ruby. Displays an array of intensely perfumed, mineral-accented black and blue fruit, floral, botanical herb and exotic spice aromas, along with suggestions of licorice, smoked meat and olive. Shows serious depth as well as unlikely energy, offering palate-staining kirsch, cassis, bitter chocolate, olive paste and violet pastille flavors that slowly turn sweet and become more energetic through the back half. Youthfully gripping tannins add grip to the smoky, mineral- and spice-driven finish, which emphatically repeats the licorice and blue fruit notes.

Classically dark, brooding fruits, this has length and depth, with good balance even though the acidity is quite low. With its intense and muscular tannins, this is for the long term. Four weeks in tank, 18 months in oak (limited newoak), with natural yeasts and as many stems as possible.

(94-96 points) Reasonably floral and red-fruited at the moment, the 2020 Cote Rotie la Landonne may not have the richness and power of the very best vintages, but it's still a terrific wine. Tasted as a barrel sample drawn just hours earlier, in addition to those violets and raspberries, it's also marked by the vineyard's characteristic dark notes of roasted meat, black olives and espresso, ample tannins and a long, silky-textured finish. - JC