2012 Red Wine from Northern Rhone

jamessuckling.com, 97 points: The nose has a complex array of fine-ground eastern spices, strong cardamom, fine dark chocolate and ripe black cherries and plums. There's even some licorice. It has a neatly composed and elegant feel on the palate. It...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: While I loved Michel's 2012 Cote Rotie la Mordoree from barrel, it blew me away from bottle, and I think bares more than a passing resemblance to his 1991. About as elegant and seamless as they come, it exhibits...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: A blockbuster Saint Joseph that’s up there with the crème de la crème of the appellation, the 2012 Saint Joseph Sainte Epine offers awesome notes of crème de cassis, toasted spice, licorice and vanilla bean. Slightly...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: I loved the 2012 Hermitage le Meal Estate last year on release, and I loved it this year as well. Its inky color is followed by terrific notes of black raspberries (which I almost always find in wines from le Meal)...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Getting a big "Wow" in the notes, the 2012 Cote Rotie la Landonne offers additional richness, concentration and depth, with notes of lots of floral and violet notes intermixed with cassis, cruhsed rock and pepper...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Always one of the top wines in the appellation, the 2012 Saint Joseph les Granits is a blockbuster that needs to be snatched up by readers. I rated this 94 points on release, and it went screaming past that rating on this...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: I loved the 2012 Hermitage le Meal Estate last year on release, and I loved it this year as well. Its inky color is followed by terrific notes of black raspberries (which I almost always find in wines from le Meal)...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: Coming from the upper part of Cornas and seeing 24 months in 400-500 Liter barrels (none new), the 2012 Cornas Domaine du Coulet Billes Noires is an incredible effort that’s up with the crème de la crème of the vintage...

jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Bottled as a single blend in 2012, this has a fine, peppery edge to the nose with elegant dark-chocolate aromas ahead of brambly dark plums and black-cherry fruits. There's a wealth of richness and power here, and it's so...