Offers a complex and savory entry of grilled rosemary, peppercorn and candied bacon, with an intense, floral black currant note underneath. Built around a rich core of brambly berries and black plum on a medium frame...

Savory and zesty, with a sinewy core of tannins framed by blackberry, espresso, licorice and smoked beef flavors that build density and tension on the finish. Best from 2026 through 2035. - TF

Louis Barruol has turned out a successful 2021 Cote Rotie, evoking hints of espresso, smoked meat, black olives and tart berries. It's medium-bodied and silky-textured, with tea-like notes on the complex, elegant finish.- JC

A savory, herbaceous and spicy Côte-Rôtie in a somewhat leaner style, yet this boasts a seductive textural purity, with all elements nicely meshed. Liberally dusted in white and black pepper, while a core of red fruit...

The 2021 Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune is a towering success. It unwinds with a mesmerizingly complex perfume of juniper, crushed violets, chamomile, blueberry jam, menthol and herbal tea. Licorice and black pepper add spicy...

If you think that syrah is never charming then you need to try this exception to the rule. Bright nose of violets and wild red berries with a whiff of smoke. Well-judged healthy tannins complement the bright fruit on the...

(92+ points) The 2021 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge is lively and fresh yet still brings good concentration and depth. Ripe blackberries, game, violets, damp flowers, and subtle spicy notes all define the aromatics, and it's...

A vibrant and well-structured St.-Joseph with intense violet aroma in the nose and on the palate. This is well complemented by the crisp tannins and smoky character. Racy and very mineral at the long linear finish. From...

The 2021 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is explosive, with an intense bouquet of incense, lavender, cedar shavings, dried orange peels and red plums. Nearly creamy in feel, this possesses a core of cooling acidity that...

This is a pretty challenging but ultimately fascinating cool-climate Syrah. It begins with funky aromas of charred tobacco, kelp and herb on the nose. The palate also show seaweed alongside a dark plum base, and the...

The most elegant of the Mullineux soil trio, the Granite vines always produce the grapes with the biggest berries and highest acidity, according to owner and winemaker Andrea Mullineux. This translates into a very serious...

Bottled in March 2023, the 2021 Les Iles Feray l'Ardeche checks in at 12.5% alcohol. Elegant and refreshing, the acidic backbone is much more present here compared to the more supple 2022 rendition. Red-fruited and...

The 2021 Cornas Chaillot outperforms the rustic 2020 I tasted on the same occasion. Ripe black fruit, graphite, cedar, stemmy facets and peppery nuances are all amplified in the glass. Intense and expressive, the medium-...

The 2021 Cornas Chaillot outperforms the rustic 2020 I tasted on the same occasion. Ripe black fruit, graphite, cedar, stemmy facets and peppery nuances are all amplified in the glass. Intense and expressive, the medium-...

Pronounced blood orange, black cherry jam, blackcurrant, dried violet, pencil shaving and cedar notes introduce the 2021 Cornas Reynard. Stemmy funk adds more complexity to the mix. Hitting the full-bodied palate with...

Pronounced blood orange, black cherry jam, blackcurrant, dried violet, pencil shaving and cedar notes introduce the 2021 Cornas Reynard. Stemmy funk adds more complexity to the mix. Hitting the full-bodied palate with...