Domaine Pierre Jean Villa, Côte-Rôtie (Rhône Valley, France) 2016

 Sourced from a single lieu-dit near La Turque toward the top of the Côte Brune, this is a very different wine than Villa’s Côte-Rôtie “Carmina.”  Visibly darker and physically denser, it is more “impressive” and less “elegant,” but this is a distinction that could easily be misunderstood.  There’s very little overt oak in either wine, and this is all about the site rather than different treatment in the cellar.  Despite this wine’s sheer size, it is equally remarkable for its purity and energy, which are virtues that become even more valuable in wines of striking concentration.  Simply gorgeous, this will be hard to find, as only 2,000 cases are made, but it is definitely worth a search (and if a search doesn’t suffice, theft or murder are worth considering).