Domaine Michel & Stephane Ogier 2012 "La Belle Hélène" Côte-Rôtie, Rhône Valley, France

 Winemaker: Stephane Ogier

Variety: Syrah

Farming: Organic

 A wine that could flirt with perfection at maturity, the 2012 Côte Rôtie Cuvée Belle Helene is the polar opposite of the perfumed, finesse styled Lancement and offers a dense, powerful, masculine personality. Inky-colored, full-bodied, sensationally concentrated and still balanced and seamless, it offers a serious bouquet of dark fruits (cassis, black raspberries), crushed rock, charcoal, graphite and wood smoke. The more rounded style of the 2012 vintage gives this a touch of upfront charm, but it really needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will have three decades or more of longevity.160 cases made.

OGIER 2012 COTE ROTIE BELLE HELENE - 98pts - Wine Advocate

October 26, 2016   A wine that could flirt with perfection  at maturity, the 2012 Côte Rôtie Cuvée Belle Helene is the polar  opposite of the perfumed, finesse styled Lancement and offers a dense,  powerful, masculine personality. Inky-colored, full-bodied,  sensationally concentrated and still balanced and seamless, it offers a  serious bouquet of dark fruits (cassis, black raspberries), crushed  rock, charcoal, graphite and wood smoke. The more rounded style of the  2012 vintage gives this a touch of upfront charm, but it really needs  6-7 years of cellaring and will have three decades or more of longevity.