Question about Rene Rostaing

This is bugging me. I can't seem to find any consensus, except for scores/prices, as to which Cote Rotie is Rostaing's top cuvee, the La Landonne or the Cote Blonde? The winery's site seems to subtly hint at the Cuvee Blonde, the WineDoctor says the La Landonne (he admits he hasn't tasted it, so this must be a word-of-moth thing).

I just want to make a valid guess as to which 1996 to open first. I suppose the fascination of the wine world for single-vineyard wines makes the La Landonnne seem like it should be the number one wine.

[David M. Bueker]

In regards to 1996, I am not certain that it really matters. '96 was a decent but not fine vintage for the region, and most of the wines are pretty mature.

If this is anything like Guigal I'm not sure that the "top cuvee" is always the one to cellar longer. Aren't you really interested in knowing which should be consumed sooner/later not which is the top cuvee?

I almost always hear the La Landonne referred to as the top cuvee (Rhone Report, the importer, various wine shop e-mails I get, etc.), but I remember Parker saying Rene likes to serve the Cote Blonde after the La Landonne, as he thinks it typically tends to be richer and more intense. Not sure what the case was in 1996, though. Personally, I might try the Cote Blonde first.

In regards to 1996, I am not certain that it really matters. '96 was a decent but not fine vintage for the region, and most of the wines are pretty mature.

I would agree with David. Pretty much anything that I've had from 96 Rhone is mature with little potential for improvement so I would plan to pop both over the next year. As such, its a coin toss.

If this is anything like Guigal I'm not sure that the "top cuvee" is always the one to cellar longer. Aren't you really interested in knowing which should be consumed sooner/later not which is the top cuvee?

Actually, I don't plan to keep them long enough to make that a factor. I just want to start with the lesser wine so as to savor the anticipation of moving on to the next one.