2012 stephane ogier, cote rotie, la belle helene
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Why We're Buying
La Belle Hélène is the brainchild of Michel and Stéphane Ogier. The domaine's founders have slowly entered the realm of wine elites since opening in the 1980s. Wine critic Jeb Dunnuck hailed La Belle Helene as one of the “greatest young Syrahs.”
Critics Scores
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A wine that could flirt with perfection at maturity, the 2012 Cote Rotie Cuvee 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. (JD)
Vinous
Saturated ruby. Heady aromas of candied dark berries, incense and licorice are complemented by suggestions of candied violet and five-spice powder. Supple, deeply flavored and energetic, offering powerful blackberry and floral pastille flavors and a zesty peppery nuance. The smooth, strikingly long finish features lingering sweetness, a hint of allspice and subtle, slow-building tannins. (JR)
Wine Spectator
Rock-solid, with a dark, winey core of black currant and blackberry fruit carried by a lively, brambly structure. Lots of anise and sweet tobacco fill in on the finish, where the fruit plays out along with a tug of sweet earth. Wins on both power and seduction. Best from 2018 through 2028. (JM)