Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: 100 points

The 1998 Cote Rotie La Landonne is a perfect wine ... at least for my palate. Its saturated black/purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary nose of smoke, incense, tapenade, creosote, blackberry, and currant aromas. It is densely packed with blackberry, truffle, chocolate, and leather-like flavors. The wine possesses high tannin, but perfect harmony, impeccable balance, and gorgeous integration of acidity, alcohol, and tannin. It is a tour de force in winemaking. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.

Review date: April 2002

Wine Spectator: 95 points

Fantastic. This full-bodied, pitch-black wine caresses the palate with a thick and opulent texture, ultrasoft tannins and rich fruit, then explodes with fresh, vibrant intensity, leaving a long trail of memories on the smoke, cassis, black currant, mineral aftertaste. Drink now through 2020. 830 cases made.

Review date: November 2002

Vinous: 97 points

Saturated medium ruby. Incredible nose combines black fruits, violet, meat, licorice, brown spices, cinders and tapenade. Dense and powerful, with a strong flavor of bitter chocolate and great delineation of flavor. This has the most impressive tannic structure of these '98s. Offers great breed and vivacity. Finishes with superb palate-staining persistence. The pH here is about 3.77, which is significantly lower than that of the 2000 version but higher than the '99.

Review date: January 2003