2006 Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene
By Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis
The Distinctive Allure of the 2006 Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene from Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis
For the discerning fine wine investor, the story of a wine is as intoxicating as its flavours. A striking narrative captured in the distinctive 2006 Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene from Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis, an epistle written on the steep vineyards of Rhone.
A Vintage that Narrates a Story
The year 2006 presented an extraordinary climate for the Rhone Valley. A wet winter and spring followed by an exceptional hot summer with timely rainfall - the stage was set perfectly for an exceptional harvest. The culmination of these orchestrated factors delivered this magnificent vintage - a testament to the resilience and triumph of quality over uncertain climatic odds.
Wine Investment to Behold
The journey through time has only increased its allure. The 2006 Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene, given time to mature, has fervidly crystallised its status as a prime wine investment. Delighted and reassured investors credit its consistent evolution - a patient decade long performance that has seen it rival and outperform even more reputed vintages in its class.
An Extraordinary Melody of Flavours
Each sip of this exclusive vintage unravels as a captivating symphony of tastes, spanning from deep dark fruit notes to piquant pepper. The Syrah grape, found deeply set into the filigree of this terroir, flourishes to its full intensity, majestically complemented by whispers of liquorice and earthy undertones - all delicately enveloped in robust tannins.
Framing the 2006 Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene
Astute investors must be cautioned - although the appreciation value of this vintage from Domaine M&S Ogier D'Ampuis has been truly remarkable, it's not merely a commodity for investment. It is a grand performance, encased within a humble bottle, waiting to orchestrate an unforgettable tasting experience. Indeed, the narrative of the 2006 Cote Rotie Cuvee Belle Helene is one of remarkable resilience, enviable elegance and consistent appreciation - a page worth bookmarking in any fine wine investor’s ledger.
Market price (SGD)
$3,610.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
144.67
Scores and tasting notes
The 2006 Cote Rotie La Belle Helene is sensational. Made primarily from destemmed fruit, it offers up notes of camphor, smoked meats, creme de cassis, raspberries, and hints of licorice as well as underbrush. Dense and full-bodied with stunning concentration, a multilayered mouthfeel, and a superb finish, it should drink beautifully for two decades. The Ogier family is a fabulous success story in the northern Rhone. As I have frequently written over the last 30 years, a family of vignerons selling their entire production to negociants, gradually begins to estate bottle, first the father, Michel, and more recently the ambitious and talented son, Stephane. The results are extraordinary wines that thrill consumers. The Ogiers have taken a strong position in Syrah vineyards planted on the hillside terraces outside the old Roman city of Vienne, a few miles north of Cote Rotie. The have two totally different terroirs, La Rosine, which is Syrah planted on granite, and l’Ame Soeur, Syrah planted on schist. Both are very fine, value-priced offerings that offer a faithful introduction into the Ogier winemaking philosophy as well as to northern Rhone Syrah. The 2007 vintage was largely damaged by hail in Cote Rotie, but much of the crop was saved by three weeks of the gusty northern winds known as the Mistral in the south that occurred in September, following horrible weather in August. The vintage turned out to be far better than expected. At the time of my visit to Ogier they were leaning toward not making a Lancement in 2007 because of hail damage. They were strongly considering declassifying that wine and blending it with the Cote Rotie. The most limited production offering is named after Michel Ogier’s charming wife, Helene. It comes closest in style to Guigal’s single vineyard Cote Rotie La Turque. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 April 2009