As with almost all of the Syrahs here, the 2020 Syrah The Deal was not destemmed, saw an extended maceration, and spent 18 months in 40% new French puncheons. Deep ruby/purple-hued, it has an incredibly floral perfume of...

(VN 94-96 points) Inky violet. A wild, smoke- and spice-accented bouquet evokes kirsch, cassis, smoked meat, olive and succulent herbs, with mineral and floral notes emerging as the wine opens up. Firm, sharply etched...

Wild herbs with a grilled tarragon note, white pepper and violets to the blue fruit and black cherries. A hint of iodine and seaweed. Concentrated and really refined on the palate with super polished tannins. Ultra-long...

Moving to the three Hermitage releases, the 2020 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes offers a deep, saturated purple hue as well as a powerful bouquet of scorched earth, creosote, peppered meat, liquid violets, and both black...

(93-95 points) From an old-vine parcel south of Chavanay proper, the 2020 Saint Joseph les Grisieres (tasted from barrel) seems to have held onto more red-fruit character than the regular bottling. It's brighter and...

Medium ruby-purple, the 2020 Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch is scented of rhubarb, blueberries and tangerine with touches of lilac and underbrush. The palate is delicate and bright, with bursts of acidity elevating its...

The 2020 Cornas Renaissance is rock star juice and it's up with the finest examples of this cuvée I've tasted. Awesome red, blue, and black fruit, charred meats, pepper, and liquid violet notes all emerge from this...

How is it possible to marry this kind of syrah power with the extraordinary refinement of this Cote-Rotie? It just glides effortlessly over your palate. Then, right at the end, the power creeps up on you and inexorably...

If you ever wondered why Hermitage had such a special reputation then you need to taste this towering masterpiece of this appellation. Spectacular mountain freshness as well as enormous concentration and underplayed...

(VN 96-98 points) Opaque magenta. Displays an array of fresh red and dark fruit, floral and spice qualities on the intensely perfumed nose, along with building mineral and succulent herb notes. Vibrant and silky in...

A fragrant nose of blackberries, dark cherries, wild herbs, baking spices, stones and black pepper. Medium body with fine, firm tannins. It has volume and structure, but remains extremely agile. It has bright acidity and...

Opaque ruby. Mineral-accented blackberry, cherry, smoked meat and olive aromas show fine detail and a spicy black pepper flourish. Energetic cherry and red and dark berry flavors are complemented by a candied violet...

(VN 95-97 points) Dark purple. Vibrant, expansive aromas of spice-accented dark berries, minerals and candied flowers pick up suggestions of olive, vanilla and smoky bacon with air. Sappy and energetic in style, offering...

(94+ points) Also terrific, the 2020 Saint Joseph La Cotte Sud has a riper, spicier style in its red and black fruits, scorched earth, violets, and spicy, incense, and meaty nuances. It's another powerful, concentrated...

Burning embers, graphite, violets, and mostly blue fruits dominate the 2020 Saint Joseph Les Royes, an Hermitage-like Saint Joseph that has medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and...

(95-97 points) Still resting in barrels, the 2020 Côte Rôtie is a ripe, sexy beast of a Côte Rôtie, and Jean-Paul commented that he preferred the more classic style of the 2019. Don't let that scare you away, as this is a...

(95+ points) The 2020 Cornas Pur Granit is brilliant stuff. Ripe black cherries, blueberries, scorched earth, smoked game, and iron are just some of its nuances, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, layered...

(95+ points) Similarly deep purple-hued, the 2020 Cornas Terre Brulee has a darker, slightly richer, yet less complex style that also warrants bottle age. Offering more black fruits, scorched earth, burning embers, and...

The darkest of the reds, the 2020 Dos Dedos de Frente is a ripe and powerful Syrah. It's showy, perfumed and heady, hedonistic and supple, with less oak than in previous years. It comes from grapes from a supplier working...

Inky violet color. High-pitched cherry and black raspberry scents are complemented by building floral and mineral notes. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering intense red and blue fruit liqueur, licorice and olive...

Shimmering ruby. Incisive, mineral-accented black raspberry, cherry, violet and olive scents show fine definition and an exotic spice flourish. Densely packed but vibrant dark berry preserve and spicecake flavors are...

(VN 92-94 points) Shimmering ruby. Expressive, spice-accented red and dark berry aromas are complemented by suggestions of olive, espresso and candied flowers. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering gently sweet...

(VN 96-98 points) Glass-staining purple. Assertively perfumed cassis, cherry liqueur, fruitcake and floral aromas take on espresso, olive and smoky bacon accents with aeration. Juicy, chewy and energetic on the palate...