Straight-up sexy, the 2018 Cote A Cote is a Grenache-dominated blend that includes 26% Mourvèdre and 23% Syrah, all aged in 35% new French oak. Stunning notes of black raspberries, ground pepper, Asian spices, and candied violets all flow to a full-bodied, concentrated wine that reminds me of a great vintage of Domaine de la Janasse's Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes cuvée. It shows more chalky minerality with time in the glass and is pure, seamless, and beautifully put together. Drink it over the coming 10-12 years.

The 2021 Côte a Côte is a blend of 37% Grenache, 32% Syrah and 31% Mourvèdre that combines power and elegance, concentration and weightlessness. The glass reveals a deep well of aromas-maraschino cherry, blueberry, licorice, rooibos tea and autumn leaves emerge from the glass and are made even more complex by undertones of earth and spice. The full-bodied palate is plush, supple and generous, though its chocolaty, floral fruit is perfectly ripe. It has a foil of mouthwatering acidity, flinty accents and a long, very latent finish. It will take several years in bottle to fully unfurl.

Outer quote mark A classical Rhône blend, with an earthiness and unfussy power that gives character and impact. This is lightly spiced with fresh acidities from the hill breezes of the Santa Rosa mountains, sculpted and lifted with graphite and slate on the finish. Generous dried fruit character comes in as the wine opens in the glass, bringing in fig, cocoa bean and ripe berry fruits with saffron and rosemary spice. Drinking Window 2022 - 2038 (JA) Inner quote mark (8/2020)

Cool-toned and classic, the 2021 Cote a Cote opens with a lovely blend of crushed blackberries, dusty sage and a lifting hint of split pine. It's elegant and silky in feel, yet powerful all the same, with depths of ripe red and black fruits that wash across the palate with ease, all guided by brisk acidity. Gently tannic and more savory than anticipated, this leaves the mouth watering for more despite its youthful state and tension. Fantastic.