Brooding and deeply structured but not ponderous, with expressive flavors of blueberry and raspberry highlighted by licorice, black olive and savory meat tones as this builds tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink...

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...

Just a step behind the La Chapelle this vintage, the 2020 Hermitage La Maison Bleue expresses the non-granitic side of Hermitage, in its opulent fruit and early accessibility. Ripe cherries and raspberries dominate the...

Sleek and polished, this Syrah has multilayered raspberry and plum flavors highlighted by baking spices, savory meat and pepper. Concludes with refined tannins. Drink now through 2030. - TF

Textural intrigue seduces in this muscular and meaty red, with a well of black currant and plum, plus plenty of smoky depth. Chalky in feel, with black pepper and lavender details, including bitter plum pit at the end...

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...

A racy nose of black fruits, smoke, wet earth and violets. Medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins and bright acidity. It has tension and balance with plenty of blueberries on the palate and a supple finish. Drink or hold.

Opaque ruby-red. A highly perfumed and expansive bouquet evokes dark berry and cherry preserves, Indian spices, olive and incense; a smoky mineral nuance emerges as the wine opens up. Fleshy and broad on the palate but...

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...

From the Soberanes Vineyard, the 2022 Syrah The Initiation was matured for 15 months in 75% new French oak. It has savory, sanguine aromas of bacon fat, woodsmoke and iron over pure blackcurrant fruit. The full-bodied...

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

(JD 96-98 points) Focused red and black fruits, leather, graphite, and spice emerge from the 2022 Hermitage, and it's about as classic an expression of the vintage as you're likely to find with its ripe yet almost...

(96+ points) Rich and powerful, with real schist character (which makes sense coming from this steep site of pure schist) as well as chocolaty, red and black fruits, the 2022 Côte Rôtie Le Viallière is full-bodied and...

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...

The 2021 Syrah The Motor City Kitty is impossible to ignore. Rich and fruit-focused, it wafts up with notes of rum cake and blackberry jam complicated by black olive, rosemary and ashen stones. This opens with a balanced...

(97+ points) From a great terroir in the northern part of Côte Rôtie, the 2020 Côte Rôtie Vallière is another perfumed, mineral-laced 2020, offering a beautiful nose of darker raspberries, camphor, violets, woodsmoke, and...

This 100% Syrah opens with black-skinned berry, cedar and green peppercorn aromas. On the concentrated palate, fine-grained tannins support ripe black currant, tobacco and licorice. Drink through 2026. KERIN O’KEEFE

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...

Robust yet brooding, this Syrah serves up deep blackberry, stony mineral, licorice and black olive accents that gather tension toward broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2030. 390 cases made.

(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...

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.

Very enticing, showing a plump core of dark currant and blackberry preserve flavors, with ganache, anise and savory hints providing nice contrast from start to finish. Nice streamlined finish. Drink now through 2030...

Brooding and deeply structured, yet retains a sense of finesse, offering blackberry and blueberry flavors framed by smoked meat, licorice and cracked pepper. Best from 2024 through 2031. —T.F.

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...

The 2020 Bullnose Syrah offers deli meat on the nose, exotic spice, graphite, black tea leaves and succulent red fruits. There is warmth (generosity, plushness, etc.) in this wine, but the acidity is cooling and detailed...

(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...

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...

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...

(94+ points) Showing consistently, and certainly giving some perspective with regards to the 2021, the 2020 Saint Joseph is gorgeously rich and textured, medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of ripe black fruits...

Inky ruby. Expressive dark fruit aromas are complemented by suggestions of candied flowers, olive and candied licorice, and a bright mineral nuance adds vivacity. Fleshy and open-knit, offering appealingly sweet blueberry...