Extreme amounts of cracked black pepper spice up the crumbled lilac, dark-black-plum and snappy red-currant aromas on the dynamic nose of this cool-climate bottling. There's a wild zestiness to the palate, where the...

Some tea-bag and sweet-tobacco character to the dark-fruit and lightly toasted-oak character on both the nose and palate. Full-bodied, chewy and polished with a long, flavorful finish. Fine, powdery tannins. Needs time to...

Aromas of sliced plums, red licorice, espresso and rosemary. Medium-to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Succulent and clear with lovely black fruit and earthy spice. Broad shouldered but remains elegant. Lovely. Drink or...

Boasting classic Les Bessards notes of sun-warmed cassis and crushed stone, the 2018 Hermitage Les Bessards has turned out to be a magnificent wine—a close rival to the potentially perfect 2015. Full-bodied and velvety...

An almost Hermitage-like bouquet of burning embers, cassis, graphite, woodsmoke, and spring flowers emerges from the 2018 Cornas La Sabarotte, which comes from a tiny, south-facing vineyard in this heralded appellation...

An attractively fresh and fragrant nose with acacia-like perfume, chamomile and fresh pear aromas. The palate has a super juicy peach core with such fresh, fleshy appeal and a late, toasty glow. Drink this now.

While not submitted to my tasting (and it wasn't presented from barrel last year), it would be hard to imagine there won't be a Les Vieilles Fontaines cuvée. Don't miss a chance to buy a bottle if you find one. Moving to...

All of the classic Cote-Rotie aromas (leather, smoked bacon, spices and black cherry) pour from the glass of this rich and fleshy wine. Very silky texture, in spite of the generous, fine tannins, which build beautifully...

The 2018 Syrah Californio Hyde Vineyard is dark and explosive in the glass. Ripe red cherry, plum, chocolate, leather and licorice open first, followed by more typical Syrah notes of black pepper, game, tobacco, incense...

(94 - 97 points) Tasted from a new barrel, the 2018 Cote Rotie Rose Pourpre features mocha and plum notes. It's full-bodied, rich and velvety, with that weight offset by cool menthol notes, and the lengthy finish even...

Ripe black cherries, wild blackberries, blackcurrants, nutmeg, licorice, mahogany, musk and some dried thyme on the nose. It’s full-bodied and polished with intense blue and black-fruit flavors, wonderfully balanced with...

Full dark red. Pungent spicy lift to the aromas of raspberry, boysenberry, smoked meat, grilled herbs, rose petal and red licorice complicated by white pepper and black olive; coffee and mocha notes emerged with extended...

(96-98 points) Lastly, the 2018 La Sangre de Jonata is 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier brought up in 15% new French oak (8% whole clusters). The 2018 will be a gorgeous vintage for this cuvée, offering lots of bloody blue and...

The Tua Rita 2018 Syrah Per Sempre is another monumental achievement from this iconic Tuscan estate. Stefano Frascolla and his team have slouched into a very cozy and comfortable relationship with the Syrah grape, and...

(93-94 points) Aromas of ripe, spice-tinged dark berries and pungent flowers are sharpened by sneaky mineral and spice flourishes. Spicy and focused on the palate, offering juicy blackberry, cherry and violet pastille...

(98+ points) Coming all from the pure granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit, on the western side of Hermitage, the 2018 Ermitage Le Pavillon is 100% Syrah that was all destemmed and aged 18 months in just 15% new French...

Remarkably fresh nose, considering that August 2018 was so hot in the Rhone. Stunning aromas of bitter chocolate and perfectly ripe wild blackberries. I love the generous but not expansive body, where there’s a...

The 2018 Côte Rôtie Les Triotes offers another level of richness, giving up lots of black and red fruits intermixed with plenty of peppery spice, plum sauce, and candied violets. With loads of charm, medium to full body...

(96-97 points) Intensely perfumed, mineral-accented aromas of dark fruit liqueur, pungent flowers and licorice show excellent clarity and energetic lift. Juicy blackberry, boysenberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille...

The 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle is a monster of a wine that brings tons of richness and depth while staying light on its feet and balanced. Lots of ripe red and blue fruits as well as flowers, smoked meat, licorice, and...

(94+ points) The 2018 Keir very much stands out in this set of new releases from Tua Rita. A passion project and something of an intellectual challenge accepted mutually by Stefano Frascolla and Luca D'Attoma, this is...

The Tua Rita 2018 Syrah Per Sempre is another monumental achievement from this iconic Tuscan estate. Stefano Frascolla and his team have slouched into a very cozy and comfortable relationship with the Syrah grape, and...

Amazing aromas of graphite, blackcurrant, black pepper, and blue fruit. Slate, too. Full-bodied, yet so agile and light, in a way that makes it irresistible to taste and drink. The palate is full of flavor with...

The 2018 Syrah Clary Ranch is one of the most distinctive wines in this lineup. A rush of sweet red plum, pomegranate, blood orange, iron, mint and sage builds as this powerful, intensely savory Syrah builds in the glass...

(92-95 points) I tasted from two barrels seemingly destined for the 2018 Saint Joseph les Pierres. One was full-bodied, plush and long, with notes of mocha and black cherries, while the other showed explosive red fruit...

Deep, lurid violet. Potent, mineral- and spice-accented red and dark fruit preserve aromas take on hints of olive and licorice as the wine opens up. Shows very good depth as well as energy in the mouth, offering gently...

The 2018 Syrah impresses for its precision and nuance. There is plenty of the textural richness readers have come to expect from Pride, but that is balanced by striking aromatic definition and presence. Floral accents...