An amazing effort for the vintage, with black cherry compote and hoisin sauce notes layered with mineral, black tea, vanilla bean and dark cocoa. Long, supersilky finish is carried by fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2021. -Wine Spectator Insider July 26, 2006
The 2002 Cote Rotie La Mouline offers bacon fat, litchi nut, peach, and sweet cherry characteristics in an elegant, medium-bodied, lighter style than normal. There is plenty of substance in this seductive, Pinot Noir-like effort. It should drink well for a decade. -Robert Parker's Wine Advocate #163 (Feb 2006)
Good ruby-red. Aromas of blackcurrant, cherry, licorice and pepper. Pure and fruity for the vintage but less expansive than usual for La Mouline, with less nuance and depth. Not yet expressive, though. The Guigals picked La Mouline, La Turque and La Landonne late in 2002 despite spreading rot, as they felt there was not enough phenolic ripeness earlier. They ultimately threw out 40% of the crop. -Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Jan/Feb 05
