Domaine MS Ogier DAmpuis   Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene

2016 Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene

By Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis

The Exemplary 2016 Côte Rôtie Cuvée Belle Hélène from Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis, Rhône, France

Every wine tells its own narrative. The 2016 vintage of Côte Rôtie Cuvée Belle Hélène from Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis, in particular, crafts an eloquent epic, metaphorically echoing the terroir's unique interplay of climatic conditions and soil characteristics.

 

Embodiment of Rhône Excellence

The exalted Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis fashions a masterful portrait of the Rhône region with their 2016 Côte Rôtie Cuvée Belle Hélène. The producer's intimate knowledge of each vine, coupled with a knack for ushering Syrah to its zenith, results in a wine that is bursting with the promise of a sound investment.

The year 2016 speaks through the glass with an eloquence specific to Côte Rôtie's split personality of power and elegance. A cooler vintage than its predecessors, it bestowed upon the vineyards well-distributed rainfall and breezy summer months that allowed the Syrah fruit to ripen at a balanced pace.

 

A Vintage that Holds its Own

The yield of this gentle year was grapes teeming with concentrated flavours. They were ready to be woven into an opulent tapestry of blackberries and floral nuances, highlighted by peppery undertones - a signature trait of Rhône Syrah. Beneath this symphony lies a fine acidic spine and well-integrated tannins lending solid structure to the wine.

This 2016 Côte Rôtie Cuvée Belle Hélène is a window into its majestic year, reflecting not just the character of the Syrah grape, but also the individual nuances this vintage introduced. Its balance, depth and reliability all combined, position it as an appealing prospect for fine wine investors.

 

In Summary: a Palette of Prominence

Of all the vintages to emerge from the esteemed vaults of Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis, the 2016 Côte Rôtie Cuvée Belle Hélène sings an exceptionally melodic tune. It embodies the perfect marriage of a considered viticulture approach and a vintage-specific terroir expression. Equally at ease in the cellar as on the savvy investor's portfolio, it is bound to unfurl its eloquent narrative beautifully over the coming years.

Market price (CAD)

$4,300.00

12x75cl

Highest score

96

POP score

161.25

Scores and tasting notes

96

Nearly as good as the la Côte Blonde, the 2016 Cote Rotie La Belle Helene is plump, round and full in the mouth, yet it lacks some of the former wine's exotic perfume. It still shows lovely purity, with baskets of ripe red berries, a plush, creamy mouthfeel and a long finish. It's a terrific wine that suffers only by comparison. With its terrific concentration and balance, it should drink well for two decades or more.

Joe Czerwinski - The Wine Advocate, 31 October 2018

Vintage performance