Glass-staining ruby. Hugely perfumed, mineral-accented black and blue fruit preserves, floral oil, olive paste, pipe tobacco and exotic spice aromas show superb clarity and pick up a hint of smokiness with air. Juicy and...

Combining power and elegance, the 2023 Cornas Granit 60 is beautiful, revealing aromas of violet, dark berries, grapefruit and spices. Medium- to full-bodied, deeper and more layered than Granit 30, it’s built around a...

(94+ points) The 2020 Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos is tighter and more focused, with a more blue-fruited perfume of cassis, graphite, violets, and peppered meat-like aromas and flavors. The polar opposite of the broad, ripe...

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

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...

Textural intrigue seduces in this muscular and meaty red, with a well of black currant and plum, plus plenty of smoky depth. Chalky in feel, with black pepper and lavender details, including bitter plum pit at the end...

The 2021 Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune is a towering success. It unwinds with a mesmerizingly complex perfume of juniper, crushed violets, chamomile, blueberry jam, menthol and herbal tea. Licorice and black pepper add spicy...

Shimmering ruby. Fresh black and blue fruits, candied flowers and baking spices on the expressive nose. Appealingly sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy blueberry, cherry and spicecake flavors that firm up...

Crushed stone, mint, blackberries and cassis all appear upon the nose of the 2020 Ermitage le Pavillon. The great vintages of these wines soak up the oak, like this one has. Full-bodied, concentrated and massive in scale...

This carries an attractive, mineral laced, high-toned floral nose with plum and raspberry coulis all underscored by baking spices and fresh cracked pepper. There is nice volume and texture on entry showing a sleek and...

Pretty notes of thyme and rose petals jump out of the glass in this well-crafted, earthy red. Warm soil and salted, smoked meat accents join a hint of toast to overlay red currant, dark chocolate, violet and spice...

Moving to the single vineyard 2020 Côte Rôtie La Landonne, this beauty is 100% Syrah that spent 16 months in a mix of new and used barrels. It's similarly deep purple/plum-hued yet has a more mineral-laced, focused...

An elegant expression of Cornas, with real complexity. High-toned cherry and olive tapenade are laced with sweet bay leaf, lavender and earth. Well-managed tannins support the supple core of red fruit. Shows a refined...

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...

Sleek, ripe and focused at first, with a racy beam of black currant and blackberry fruit that drives through, carried by a graphite edge and flanked by sweet bay leaf, tapenade and pepper accents. The long finish has a...

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...

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...

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...

The 2014 Ermitage Le Pavillon isn’t quite ready for action just yet. Time in the glass unlocks pronounced graphite, cured meat, cigar box and blackcurrant aromatics. Taut and precise, the full-bodied 2014 is enveloped by...

The elegant 2013 Ermitage L'Ermite opens with jammy red and black fruits, tobacco, crushed violets, cured meat and earthy undertones. Medium-bodied and refreshing, the 2013 engages the palate with solid concentration and...

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...

Polished and pure, with a beam of cassis and cherry preserves streaming through, flanked with floral and iron streaks. Long and refined through the finish, with pretty spice and apple wood details infusing the fruit...

A savory, herbaceous and spicy Côte-Rôtie in a somewhat leaner style, yet this boasts a seductive textural purity, with all elements nicely meshed. Liberally dusted in white and black pepper, while a core of red fruit...