TESTING
The extraordinary 1998 Cote Rotie Chateau d’Ampuis is more structured, powerful,
and concentrated than the 1997. My ratings for the component parts ranged
from a low of 90 - 92 for La Grande Plantee, to a high of 94 - 96 for La Pommiere
and Pavillon Rouge. All revealed huge colors, earthy, smoky noses with
bacon fat and black currants, and various degrees of tannin. This is unquestionably
a vintage for patient connoisseurs as it requires cellaring. It is dense, chewy,
and muscular. /RP /Apr 2002
and concentrated than the 1997. My ratings for the component parts ranged
from a low of 90 - 92 for La Grande Plantee, to a high of 94 - 96 for La Pommiere
and Pavillon Rouge. All revealed huge colors, earthy, smoky noses with
bacon fat and black currants, and various degrees of tannin. This is unquestionably
a vintage for patient connoisseurs as it requires cellaring. It is dense, chewy,
and muscular. /RP /Apr 2002