Layered aromas of plums, black cherries, leather, bark and iron. Full-bodied with a lot of nuance. Firm, gripping tannins. Dried roses and crushed blackberries mix with dark, mineral complexity, leaving a buzz on the...

A superb Maison Bleue, the 2019 Hermitage La Maison Bleue seamlessly blends cherries and cassis into a purple mashup of fruit carried on rich, velvety waves of texture. Full-bodied and intense, it finishes complex and...

(93+ points) Seemingly refined by the additional elevage since I reviewed a barrel sample last year, the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a big, rich, dark-fruited and almost tarry effort, but this...

(93-95 points) Spice-accented aromas of black raspberry, violet and smoky minerals, plus a hint of incense in the background. Concentrated yet lively and precise, offering intense dark berry, floral pastille and cracked...

98+ Deeply colored, the 2019 Côte Rotie La Mordorée is the flagship Côte Rôtie, offering gorgeous blackberry and black raspberry fruits as well as scorched earth, flowers, and peppery herbs. This beauty is full-bodied...

The inky hued 2019 Ermitage Le Méal offers up a classic, kaleidoscope-like bouquet of red and black fruits, smoked meats, crushed stone, spice, and burning embers. Full-bodied, ripe, and opulent, it has a wonderful sense...

This is a smashing success. The Tua Rita 2019 Syrah Per Sempre hits it out of the ballpark thanks to its impressive richness and aromatic intensity. The grapes come from a special growing site with compact galestro soils...

One of the highlights in this range, the 2019 Syrah is gorgeous. Bright red/purplish berry fruit and floral notes race out of the glass. The 2019 was done in equal parts of cement and neutral French oak, an approach that...

Black tea, blackberry, redcurrant and sage on the nose. Full-bodied with fine, tight tannins. Bright acidity lifts up the dark-fruit profile and brings energy and drive to the lengthy palate. Ground spice and dark...

(92-94 points) Primary black/blue fruit, violet, allspice and olive qualities on the highly perfumed nose, where a smoky mineral nuance adds energetic lift. Sweet, deep-pitched blueberry, cherry and fruitcake flavors...

The star of the show as well as one of the wines of this great vintage, the 2019 Ermitage Le Pavillon comes all from broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit and was all destemmed, vinified in concrete tanks, and...

(93+ points) Seemingly refined by the additional elevage since I reviewed a barrel sample last year, the 2019 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a big, rich, dark-fruited and almost tarry effort, but this...

98+ More black raspberry, camphor, graphite, peppered meat, and powdered rock notes emerge from the 2019 Côte Rôtie Le Vialliere, another flat-out incredible wine from this family. Much straighter and more focused than...

Quite ripe, yet not over-ripe, the inky hued 2019 Saint Joseph reveals notes of pen ink, crushed stone, blackberry, and ground pepper, followed by a full-bodied red with moderate acidity. Rich and textured, not heavy, it...

95+ The 2019 Saint Joseph Les Granits is another rich, mouth-filling, structured wine from the team at Chapoutier that will benefit from bottle age. Black cherries, truffle, subtle smoke, and ground herbs all emerge from...

This is a polished Crozes, the red fruit spiced and smoothed by time spent in oak barrels and held firm and fresh in the wine’s tannic structure. Tense and youthful, this is approachable now but better left in the cellar...

The bouquet of this is like a huge bunch of flowers, although many of the aromas go in the balsamic, leathery and spicy directions. With a little aeration smoke and cigar tobacco notes develop. Deep blackberry and...

(95+ points) The 2019 Syrah Donna's Block comes from Estrella clone vines planted in pure sandy soils and was made entirely with whole clusters. Medium ruby-purple, it has a detailed perfume of blue and black berries...

While just bottled a week before this tasting, the 2019 Syrah Powerline Vineyard certainly wasn't showing any worse for it, offering a stunning bouquet of ripe red and black fruits as well as white pepper, sandalwood...

(92-94 points) Primary black/blue fruit, violet, allspice and olive qualities on the highly perfumed nose, where a smoky mineral nuance adds energetic lift. Sweet, deep-pitched blueberry, cherry and fruitcake flavors...

More elegant, the 2019 Saint Joseph Le Clos has an incredibly granite nose of cassis, leather, ground pepper, and powdered rock. Tasting like a Hermitage from Bessards, it’s medium to full-bodied, has remarkable purity...

Crushed stone, berry and lead pencil. Flintlock and iodine, too. Full-bodied, very tight and focused with incredible depth and intensity. Sculpted and intense. Incredible. Silky and tight tannins. Great finish. Reminds me...

(92-94 points) Pungent cherry, blueberry and candied violet aromas are complemented by hints of black pepper and smoky minerals. Succulent and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated, appealingly sweet...

The 2019 Syrah Estate has 2% Viognier co-fermented and underwent 18% whole-cluster fermentation. Dark currants, coffee grounds and violets all fill the nose, along with herbal undertones. The densely concentrated palate...

(96-98 points) More blue fruits, candied violets, iron, smoked meats, and truffly notes emerge from the 2019 Cornas. A bigger, richer wine, offering full-bodied richness, building, beautiful tannins, and just about...

(92-94 points) Powerful, mineral-driven dark berry, cherry pit and floral aromas show excellent clarity and take on subtle cola and licorice notes with air. Concentrated but lively as well, offering intense blackberry...