The 1978 E. Guigal Cote-Rotie Cotes Brune et Blonde scored 17+ points on the Dionysian 20-point scale. It cost $19 back then ($90 today for new ones) and with 12.5% alcohol, at 38 years old, it has peaked. Smooth as silk after decanting, the wine had white pepper notes among tobacco and dark spices. I only have one remaining.

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Served with Jersey wild venison, this Rhone Syrah matched perfectly.

This was considered Guigal’s best bottling; from the Blonde and Brunette Vineyards (named because of the autumn color of the grape leaves) and Rhone wines  like this are meant to age 15 to 30 years gaining complexity. In vino veritas.