Showing more concentration than the 2020, the 2019 Cote Rotie Les Pierrelles (Domaine) is a dark-fruited effort, with notes of espresso and black olives dominating the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it's intense and silky-textured, with a lingering finish. Give it a few years in the cellar and drink it over the following decade.

With the firm's holdings being in the southern portion of the appellation near Maison Rouge in Tupin-Semons, it is no surprise that the 2018 Cote Rotie Les Pierrelles (Domaine) is a fine, elegant expression of the appellation. Scents of crushed stone and olive give way to red berries on the nose, while the medium to full-bodied palate is concentrated but silky, with hints of cranberry and cedar creeping in on the long finish.

The 2017 Cote Rotie Domaine des Pierrelles is full-bodied but exceedingly elegant, with silky, fine-grained tannins. Charming notes of violets, raspberries and black olives lead the way, backed by hints of dried spices and mocha, finishing long. It's a complex and compelling example of Cote Rotie, and it's great to see all of the Jaboulet team's hard work in the vineyards paying off.

Even better than I thought last year from barrel, the 2016 Cote Rotie Domaine des Pierrelles is all about elegance and finesse. Hints of cracked pepper and cured meat accent raspberries and cherries in this medium-bodied, silky offering that's ready to drink now, yet it should last for at least a decade.