2011 Red Wine from France

Wine Spectator, 95 points: This has a gorgeous mouthfeel, with a velvety yet racy edge allowing the dark plum, black cherry compote, anise, iron and dark olive notes to unfurl through the long finish. Should age well. Best from 2016 through 2026. – JM

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: Another decadent, beautifully layered effort from this domaine, the 2011 Suis L'Étoile is made from 80% Grenache, 10% Carignan and 10% Syrah that was vinified and aged in older demi-muid. Loaded with ripe blackberry and...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: A wine I rated 92 just last year, the 2011 Cotes Catalanes Secret de Schistes has come on like gang busters and has extraordinary notes of kirsch, chocolate, cured meats, wild herbs and olive. Just as good on the palate...

Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: So smooth, this is a rich, grandiose wine. Although it is full of black currant fruits and spice flavors, the texture is most impressive. Dusty tannins are integrated with juicy fruits seamlessly. The purest fruit flavors...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: The top wine of the estate, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme is a hidden gem in the vintage! A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Counoise and Vaccarese, from 90-year-old vines and aged in one-third new...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: Very focused, with a lovely beam of lightly steeped red currant, bitter cherry and plum fruit flavors that glides atop singed cedar, black tea and dried star anise notes. The long finish is very fine-grained. A gorgeous...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Also inky colored, full-bodied and seriously rich, the 2011 Hermitage boasts knockout aromas and flavors of blueberry, creme de cassis, plum pit, scorched earth and crushed rock. Dense, concentrated, yet also voluptuously...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: One of the stars of the vintage and coming from absurdly low yields of 18 hectoliters per hectare, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape is a full-bodied, seamless effort that exhibits copious kirsch, ground pepper, dried flowers...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Moving to the 2011s, these are all superb and possess classic Cornas characteristics without any rusticity or coarseness (which is becoming more the norm in the appellation than not). Layered and reasonably approachable...

Wine Spectator, 97 points: A brick house, with a thick wall of smoldering charcoal in front of the fruit, though the core of steeped plum, blackberry and fig flavors has ample energy and depth in reserve. Given time, these elements should meld...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 94 points: Reminiscent of a lighter weight 2009, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape offers up a sweet bouquet of spiced black cherries, plum, truffle, saddle leather and underbrush. Coming from tiny yields (which were down 50% from 2010)...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 98 points: 98+ As expected, the 2011 Ermitage l’Ermite, which comes from the lieu-dit of the same name, is more backward and focused, with a slightly closed, tight profile. Slowly giving up ample cassis and black raspberry fruit...

Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: This is a really fruity wine that’s opulent and gorgeously rich. There is a pepper edge, touches of new wood and a firm, dark core. Acidity and concentration are already integrated. Drink from 2018.

Burghound, 94 points: (BH91-94 points) An intensely floral nose is notably ripe with notes of plum, spice, black raspberry and cassis in evidence. There is a seductive texture to the solidly well-concentrated medium weight plus flavors that...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 95 points: 95+ Starting off the 2011s, both of which were tasted out of bottle numerous times, the 2011 Hermitage Domaine de Tourettes is another blockbuster from this producer. Full-bodied, rich, layered and voluptuously textured...