2016 Syrah Wine

Wine Enthusiast, 96 points: This is an awesome expression of cool climate Syrah, with rosemary-crusted lamb chops, peppercorns, asphalt and elderberry-jam aromas starting the show. The palate is intense with cracked pepper, bay leaf, rosemary oil...

jamessuckling.com, 98 points: (JS 97-98 points) Very spicy and peppery with blue-granite aromas plus hints of grilled and smoked meat. Cloves and nutmeg. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a super spicy finish that almost burns with so much...

Decanter, 95 points: This smells liked the baked slopes of Cornas; sun-warmed pine needles and dusty herbs, with a dab of tarry black fruit within. It has that raw, blood and iron Cornas character, backed by some slightly earthy, resinous...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: (JS 94-95 points) This is a small two-and-a-half hectare vineyard near Hermitage. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and plenty of blackberry and granite character. Long and flavorful.

jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: The base 2016 Cornas from Robert is a killer wine that shows the style of the vintage as well as the quality of the estate brilliantly. Crème de cassis, blackberries, smoked earth, spice, and hints of meatiness all flow...

Vinous, 95 points: (92-95 points) The 2016 Relentless is every bit as stellar as it was last year. Silky, nuanced and beautifully persistent in the glass, the 2016 is super-refined. A natural tendency towards extroverted power is nicely...

jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Super fragrant and attractive aromas of wild berries, spices and pepper, as well as dark stones and orange-zest nuances. This has exceptionally defined fruit and length. Really superior definition and concentration are...

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The 2016 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a rocking (and classic) bouquet of ripe black fruits intermixed with notions new saddle leather, pepper, garrigue, and hints of bacon fat. This ripe, medium to...

jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: Readers wanting to understand pure granite soils need to taste the inky blue/black-colored 2016 Ermitage L’Ermite, as just sticking your nose in the glass is enough to instantly transport you to this magical hillside...

Wine Spectator, 92 points: A light coating of mocha allows dark cherry and plum compote flavors to glide through center stage while gentle black tea and sandalwood notes fill in on the finish. Alluring. Drink now through 2022. 6,500 cases made.–JM

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Super fresh and composed with some slate, iodine and spiced red plum fruits. The palate has a very sleek, smooth and fine core, nicely phrased tannins, elegant, focused. Best from 2022.

Decanter, 99 points: From a very steep southern exposure, aged in 25% new oak for 18 months. This wine is relatively dark, brooding and intense in terms of aromatics, and very full-bodied and broad on the palate, with a creamy texture...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: Looking even better than it did last year, now that it's in the bottle, Chapoutier's 2016 Saint-Joseph Le Clos is impressive indeed. Classy notes of crushed stone and pencil shavings are joined by floral hints of violets...

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 98 points: Inky, full bodied, deep, long and intense, the wine is meaty, fresh, powerful, tannic, full bodied, long, fresh and rich. The fruit is ripe, and so are the soft, polished, yet persistent tannins. This should age for...

Wine Spectator, 94 points: This has layers of warm cherry, plum and raspberry compote forming the core, while apple wood, black tea and iron notes run underneath. The finish has a fresh and racy edge, leaving a mouthwatering feel despite the heft...