Glass-staining ruby. Hugely perfumed, mineral-accented black and blue fruit preserves, floral oil, olive paste, pipe tobacco and exotic spice aromas show superb clarity and pick up a hint of smokiness with air. Juicy and...

Smoky and meaty character here with plums and dark cherries as well as sweet spices and bark. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine, polished tannins. Spicy and dark-fruited. Broad-shouldered and even on the palate with a...

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

The nose of this wine is captivating, with fresh black cherry accented by soft floral and spicy notes. On the palate, vibrant acidity lifts the core of black fruit, creating a beautifully balanced wine. There's no fuss...

(94+ points) The 2020 Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos is tighter and more focused, with a more blue-fruited perfume of cassis, graphite, violets, and peppered meat-like aromas and flavors. The polar opposite of the broad, ripe...

If the Syrah of the Keir tastes like the discovery of an ancient sculpture, the Per Sempre is when you see that sculpture cleaned, staged and properly lit in the museum. Thundering, towering, moving. — Danielle Callegari

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...

Based on 100% Syrah fermented with 100% whole clusters and brought up in neutral oak, the 2022 Syrah Donna's Block is slightly deeper ruby/plum in hue and offers up blackberries, pepper, bouquet garni, orange blossom, and...

There’s a meaty, smoky, peppery edge to this salty, powerhouse Cornas. Massive in scale yet achieves perfect harmony between its ripeness, texture and energy. Juniper, black pepper, grilled garrigue and apple wood smoke...

A seductive version, featuring licorice and spiced blackberry preserves with concentration and range. Violet perfume wafts through, while lashings of saline, smoked meat, tar and dried herbs make this equally savory...

A blend from vineyards throughout the region, this is classical in its structure, concentrated in the low yields of 2019. The dry season and summer heat may be present in the wine’s potent tannins, serving to complete the...

Perfumed and appealing, with pretty violet, hibiscus, fresh plum and red currant notes that turn supple and mouthfilling on the palate. A harmonious wine, with singed alder and oak spice sweetness in perfect balance. The...

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...

I loved the 2018 Côte Rôtie Terrasses, which is slightly more supple and elegant than both the 2017 and 2019. Offering darker red, almost blue fruits as well as peppery game, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality...

A bruiser, blockbuster style, with a richly styled beam of cassis and black currant offering generosity and ripeness, all laced up with finely polished tannins. Shows poise and power, with smoked meat, lavender and racy...

The classic 2020 Saint-Joseph Les Grisières presents wafts of graphite, crushed violets, ripe red fruits and cedary undertones. Elegant and refined, this concentrated and neatly structured red has all the ingredients for...

An alluring red, with fresh boysenberry and black pepper-dusted plum flavors underscored by smoked bacon, charred cedar and mocha. Pure and polished, this is well-built and seductive. Drink now through 2030. - J.M.

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 2020 Côte Rôtie Terrasses is terrific and shows the forward, sexy style of the vintage while still being classic Côte Rôtie! Black raspberries, peppery herbs, spring flowers, and a kiss of game all define the bouquet...

A gem of a Côte Rôtie, the 2017 Côte Rôtie Terrasses shows the sunnier style of the vintage yet brings impressive purity, precision, and balance. Vibrant red fruits, flowers, herbes de Provence, and subtle gamey nuances...

Composed of 100% Syrah aged in large-format barrels, the 2022 Clos du Lican embodies the sleek and glossy style of Clos Apalta and applies it to Syrah, resulting in an opulent wine with intense concentration and power...

Pure cassis, blue fruits, new leather, graphite, and hints of bouquet garni define the aromatics of the 2022 Cornas, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, an ultra-fine, pure, seamless mouthfeel...

The 2022 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is intense, mixing black tea and cardamom with olives, roasted peppers, stone dust and dried citrus peels. It is soothingly round and beautifully balanced with silken textures and ripe...

A firm yet enticing expression with a captivating blend of black cherry, crème de menthe, violets, and black olives. Fresh and vibrant, the palate is silky, with well-integrated tannins and a whisper of clove on the...

Deep, shimmering ruby. An expansive, hugely complex bouquet evokes an array of black and blue fruit, floral and exotic spice qualities, along with vanilla, espresso, licorice and tobacco notes that build as the wine opens...

A fresh, pure and vibrant style, with abundant flavors of just-ripe plum and smoked cherry, bolstered by snappy, pepper-edged acidity and highlighted by beautiful violet notes. Shows a supple palate, with savory acidity...

Aromas of forest berries with some subtle cloves. Fresh thyme and sage. Full to medium body. Very fine tannins. Crushed stone and herbs. Hints of spicy dark chocolate. Drink or hold.

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...