Collection: A rare Rhône opportunity: 98+ point Ogier

There are certain wines we simply don’t see often enough. Côte-Rôtie, particularly from the likes of Stéphane Ogier, sits firmly in that camp – which is precisely why I leapt at the chance to taste a vertical of Mes Grands Lieux with Stéphane ahead of today's release of the new knock-out 2016. The wines did not disappoint, but what more could you expect from "one of the most skilled and respected winegrowers in Côte-Rôtie" (WA). In short, Ogier is making profound wine that should be in every Club Member's cellar.
 
Mes Grands Lieux is drawn from nine parcels across Côte-Rôtie, with the lion’s share from the prized Côte Brune, which goes some way to explaining both its structure and Stéphane’s decision to hold the wine back for a full decade before release. Production is tiny – just over 1,000 cases annually – and the 2016 is now arriving exactly where you’d want it: a vintage of depth and intensity, with beautifully sculpted tannins and a line of freshness that carries the fruit with real precision. Unsurprisingly, Yohan Castaing of Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, and Matthew Jukes have all been waxing lyrical about the 2016, which was perhaps the finest wine of the flight.