Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 96 points

A masculine, ripe expression of Côte Rôtie, the 1998 Côte Rôtie Côte Blonde offers up tons of blackberry and cassis fruit to go with notions of smoked meats, iron and earth. Hitting the palate with blockbuster levels of concentration and a voluptuous, sexy texture, it still has a surprising amount of tannin that come through on the finish. Nevertheless, this is mature and drinking nicely. I would opt for drinking bottles over the coming decade or so.

Review date: February 2015