Made from syrah and 7% viognier, this has an intriguingly assertive yet elegant stance. it's compact, powerful and composed. Very complex, fragrant notes on the nose of orange zest, pepper, cloves and cardamom: It's all really spicy. On the palate, this is elegant and silky with plenty of fine tannin and a structure that's striking for its density. Dark-chocolate flavors are also a prominent feature. This expands vertically on the palate, even if oak ageing has mellowed this nicely all the way up to its creamy finish. A wine of clarity and purity: complex but refined.

97 points, JamesSuckling.com (October 2016)

Features warm fig bread and ganache notes out front, followed by densely layered blackberry, plum and black currant reduction flavors. Ganache details echo through the finish, along with Turkish coffee and smoldering alder hints. A large-scale wine that should cruise in the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2040.

97 points, Wine Spectator

Notes of char, sun-baked earth and iron seep into plump notes of blackcurrant in this wine. It's rich and dense in mouthfeel, but balanced by a zesty spine of acidity and fine, chalky tannins. The wine finishes long with hints of licorice and cacao.

94 points, Anna Lee C. Iijima for Wine Enthusiast (January 2019)

A ripe and plush year for Ampodium, with plenty of concentrated squished forest berry fruit, and a good weight of dense, grippy tannin. Very smooth ripe style. The entry-level Côte-Rôtie for this domaine, a blend of sites from across the appellation. 95% whole cluster.

93 points, Matt Walls, Decanter (October 2019)

Aromas of ripe, spice-tinged dark berries and pungent flowers are sharpened by sneaky mineral and spice flourishes. Spicy and focused on the palate, offering juicy blackberry, cherry and violet pastille flavors that are complicated by salty olive and cracked pepper nuances. Fleshes out with air while maintaining liveliness and finishes bright, spicy and quite long, displaying sharp clarity, even tannins and lingering florality.

(93-94) points, Vinous (May 2020)

Moving to the Côte Rôties, the 2018 Côte Rôtie Ampodium is a head turner and is going to rival the 2010 as the greatest vintage of this cuvée to date. A deep ruby/purple hue is followed by sumptuous notes of ripe dark fruits, ground herbs, scorched earth, and violets. Full-bodied, deep, and powerful on the palate, it has the wonderful sense of opulence and purity that’s the hallmark of the vintage.

(92-94) points, JebDunnuck.com (December 2019)