Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Deep ruby. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes dried cherry, cassis, potpourri and smoked meat, with a spicy nuance adding vivacity. Rich but energetic on the palate, offer...

Wine Spectator: Not shy at all, with a flamboyant, aromatic profile of roasted apple wood and warm ganache, featuring more than enough stuffing in the form of thickly layered blackberry paste...

Wine Spectator: Not shy at all, with a flamboyant, aromatic profile of roasted apple wood and warm ganache, featuring more than enough stuffing in the form of thickly layered blackberry paste...

Wine Spectator: Not shy at all, with a flamboyant, aromatic profile of roasted apple wood and warm ganache, featuring more than enough stuffing in the form of thickly layered blackberry paste...

Wine Spectator: Not shy at all, with a flamboyant, aromatic profile of roasted apple wood and warm ganache, featuring more than enough stuffing in the form of thickly layered blackberry paste...

Wine Spectator: Not shy at all, with a flamboyant, aromatic profile of roasted apple wood and warm ganache, featuring more than enough stuffing in the form of thickly layered blackberry paste...

Wine Spectator: Juicy and direct, with a relatively friendly feel to the plum, blackberry and blueberry fruit, all coated with a ganache note that hangs through the finish. Surprisingly acces...

Wine Spectator: Offers gorgeous mouthfeel, range of fruit and length. A velvety feel belies the dense structure buried here, while thoroughly enticing linzer torte, plum sauce and blackberry ...

Wine Spectator: Offers gorgeous mouthfeel, range of fruit and length. A velvety feel belies the dense structure buried here, while thoroughly enticing linzer torte, plum sauce and blackberry ...

Wine Spectator: Offers gorgeous mouthfeel, range of fruit and length. A velvety feel belies the dense structure buried here, while thoroughly enticing linzer torte, plum sauce and blackberry ...

Wine Spectator: Dark but racy, with chocolate-covered raspberry and blackberry fruit carried by graphite and toasty cinnamon, black tea and anise flavors. Firms up on the finish, with a lovel...

Wine Spectator: Dark but racy, with chocolate-covered raspberry and blackberry fruit carried by graphite and toasty cinnamon, black tea and anise flavors. Firms up on the finish, with a lovel...

Wine Spectator: Nicely polished, featuring dark plum and currant flavors laced with cocoa powder and roasted vanilla bean notes, which extend through the finish. Drink now through 2013. -JM

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: Made from 90% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre aged in 100% new oak, the inky/purple-hued 2009 Cotes du Ventoux Persia reveals notes of smoky barbecue intermixed with graphite, blackbe...

Wine Spectator: This is ripe and polished, with sleek cassis and blackberry fruit framed with toasty mocha and espresso hints, but also nicely grounded in terroir, with a tug of roasted earth...

Wine Spectator: WineSpectator #6 Wine of the Year. This is powerful Cabernet, with gutsy weight, but polished feel to the fresh plum, warm blackberry sauce, bittersweet ganache and roasted ap...

Wine Spectator: This has a flattering, fleshy feel, with dark smoked mesquite and tobacco notes giving way to cocoa, plum sauce and roasted fig. Solid, hedonictic style, though perhaps a bit ...

Wine Spectator: Very fleshy, with lush, velvety-textured plum sauce, currant paste and melted licorice notes, woven with toasty spice and backed by a dark chocolate bark note on the finish. B...

Wine Spectator: Very fleshy, with lush, velvety-textured plum sauce, currant paste and melted licorice notes, woven with toasty spice and backed by a dark chocolate bark note on the finish. B...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC: Opaque purple. Dark berries, cherry pit and chocolate on the nose, with licorice and black cardamon nuances adding complexity. Sappy, expansive blackcurrant and cherry flavo...