François Villard François Villard Côte-Rôtie Le Gallet Blanc 2020 750ml

Deep, bright-rimmed purple. Expressive, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry preserves, exotic spice and incense scents show sharp definition and pick up hints of violet and olive paste with aeration. Seamless and broad on the palate, offering intense cherry-cola, boysenberry, fruitcake and licorice flavors that steadily firm up on the back half. Echoes the blue fruit note on an impressively persistent, spicy finish that features polished tannins and building florality. Two-thirds whole clusters and 50% new oak. (Josh Raynolds)

Deep, bright-rimmed purple. Expressive, mineral-accented cherry and dark berry preserves, exotic spice and incense scents show sharp definition and pick up hints of violet and olive paste with aeration. Seamless and broad on the palate, offering intense cherry-cola, boysenberry, fruitcake and licorice flavors that steadily firm up on the back half. Finishes impressively persistent, spicy finish that features polished tannins and building florality. Two-Thirds whole cluster and 50% new oak.

A gorgeous wine, with salty, sappy black licorice infusing a base of plum and brambly fruit, while warm earth and other savory components—toasted anise, red tea, iron shavings—move in. Long and stylish, this is well-framed by cashmere tannins holding everything together. Drink now through 2035. 2,338 cases made, 70 cases imported. (Kristen Bieler)