(97 points) Coming from the steep, granite soils of the La Côte Lieu-dit, the 2015 Cornas La Louvée spent 23 months in 15% new French oak. It’s seriously good, and while it has a slightly modern character, it packs tons of classic Cornas fruit as well as notes of saddle leather, bouquet garni, graphite and cracked pepper. Thick, unctuous and incredibly concentrated, with sweet tannin, it's the finest wine I've tasted from this estate to date. There are only 400 cases but it’s well worth the extra effort to track down. Hat’s off to the young Laure Colombo!

(94 points) This is packed, with dark fig and raspberry ganache notes all richly layered with bittersweet cocoa, aged tobacco, loam and iron. The long, muscular finish will need time to stretch out. Best from 2008 through 2017. 350 cases made.

(93 points) Even better, the 2005 Cornas la Louvee offers more fruit, texture and length in its medium to full-bodied, balanced and layered personality. Giving up lots of crème de cassis, black raspberry, spice, licorice and garrigue, it has terrific mid-palate density, sweet tannin and a great finish. Drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.