Powerful yet silky and elegant, this wine offers so much to admire. Intense notes of both black and buttery green olive, tobacco leaf, cardamom syrup, blackberry, huckleberry, cassis and morello cherries in syrup lie at...

Smoky and meaty character here with plums and dark cherries as well as sweet spices and bark. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine, polished tannins. Spicy and dark-fruited. Broad-shouldered and even on the palate with a...

The 2022 Syrah en Chamberlin Vineyard comes from biodynamically farmed vines planted in 2000 in silty loam and basalt cobblestones. Matured for 18 months in around 20% new French oak, it has inviting scents of...

From an underrated vintage in the Rhône, the 2006 Hermitage La Chapelle is a beautiful, supple, layered wine that checks in behind the all-time greats yet unquestionably matches or surpasses most of the later 1990 and...

The 2022 Syrah Armada Vineyard comes from biodynamically farmed vines planted in 2001 in silty loam and basalt cobblestones. Matured for 21 months in around 20% new French oak, it has pure scents of boysenberry, black...

A blend from vineyards throughout the region, this is classical in its structure, concentrated in the low yields of 2019. The dry season and summer heat may be present in the wine’s potent tannins, serving to complete the...

The 2020 Côte Rôtie Terrasses is terrific and shows the forward, sexy style of the vintage while still being classic Côte Rôtie! Black raspberries, peppery herbs, spring flowers, and a kiss of game all define the bouquet...

The classic 2020 Saint-Joseph Les Grisières presents wafts of graphite, crushed violets, ripe red fruits and cedary undertones. Elegant and refined, this concentrated and neatly structured red has all the ingredients for...

Louis Barruol has turned out a successful 2021 Cote Rotie, evoking hints of espresso, smoked meat, black olives and tart berries. It's medium-bodied and silky-textured, with tea-like notes on the complex, elegant finish.- JC

I've always loved this vintage in the Northern Rhône, which has a sunny, charming, sexy style while always staying light on its feet. The 2011 Hermitage La Chapelle displays a youthful ruby hue to go with plenty of...

A texturally beguiling red, with a chewy, creamy stream of dark chocolate, perfumed lavender, plum paste and warm spices framed by alder and camphor. Large in scale yet not heavy, with a supporting beam of iron, plus an...

Fermented with whole clusters, the 2023 Cornas La Geynale is another success at this address. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of violet, dark berries, mulberries, spices and lead pencil mingled with licorice, it’s...

Pure cassis, blue fruits, new leather, graphite, and hints of bouquet garni define the aromatics of the 2022 Cornas, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, an ultra-fine, pure, seamless mouthfeel...

A firm yet enticing expression with a captivating blend of black cherry, crème de menthe, violets, and black olives. Fresh and vibrant, the palate is silky, with well-integrated tannins and a whisper of clove on the...

Brooding and deeply structured, yet retains a sense of finesse, offering blackberry and blueberry flavors framed by smoked meat, licorice and cracked pepper. Best from 2024 through 2031. —T.F.

In this vintage, winemaker Elias Fernandez celebrates his 40th year crafting wine at Shafer. The 2021 Relentless is a blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Petite Sirah, sourced from ridgetop and foothill sites along the Vaca...

Inky ruby. Smoke-accented cherry and dark berries on the deeply perfumed nose, which takes on olive and baking spice nuances with air. Smooth, concentrated and appealingly sweet, offering plush boysenberry, cherry and...

Polished and nuanced, this Syrah has a deep yet elegant structure that unveils blackberry and raspberry flavors accented with stony minerality, black olive and savory beef tones, which build toward refined tannins. Drink...

With a touch of Viognier, the 2019 Syrah In The Rocks presents an open-knit, red-fruited nose characterized by bright cherry notes alongside hints of black raspberry and turned earth, followed by a delicate floral aroma...

This sports some warm, inviting fruit, with layers of boysenberry, fig and blackberry compote rolling through, inlaid with melted black licorice and warm fruitcake flavors, all backed by a long, refined echo of minerality...

Bittersweet chocolate, violet, blueberry and red licorice notes are juicy and expressive. Offers mulberry, huckleberry and cherry flavors on an elegant frame, with fresh acidity and mint details that linger on the finish...

This earthy, sanguine version is an excellent expression of place. Fruit and spices keep pace with the smoke, graphite and olive tapenade notes, plus a hint of truffle. Creamy in feel, with all of its elements integrated...

A bold version, yet with elegance and poise, this Syrah leads with intense notes of fresh violet, bay leaf, briny olive and warm spices, adding a lush-textured and generous core of plum and cherry, with freshly cracked...

Rose, potpourri, red and black fruits, and very floral notes all emerge from the 2022 Côte Rôtie Côte Brune, a medium to full-bodied Côte Rôtie that has beautiful tannins, an incredible sense of minerality, and a very...

A texturally beguiling red, with a chewy, creamy stream of dark chocolate, perfumed lavender, plum paste and warm spices framed by alder and camphor. Large in scale yet not heavy, with a supporting beam of iron, plus an...

I loved the 2018 Côte Rôtie Terrasses, which is slightly more supple and elegant than both the 2017 and 2019. Offering darker red, almost blue fruits as well as peppery game, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality...

Polished and expressive, offering generous flavors of black raspberry accented with coffee bean, licorice and smoked pepper tones that glide toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032. 346 cases made.