Critics Ratings

Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard 2005

‘Densely packed, with tar, olive and maduro tobacco notes up front, holding the massive core of braised fig, plum sauce and tar at bay for now. The muscular finish shows flashes of iron, garrigue and graphite. Very, very long. Best from 2011 through 2024.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 96/100 (Feb 2009)

‘(this is essentially the Chaillot with the addition of old-vines Reynard) Opaque purple. Explosive, room-filling bouquet of ripe blue and black fruits, fresh flowers, Asian spices and smoky minerals. Deep, sweet and velvety, with bracing cassis and boysenberry flavors, amazing mineral lift and hefty but fine-grained tannins. Extremely impressive and built to repay extended cellaring. (Allemand's 2006s were scheduled to be bottled in early December, two weeks after my visit. I tasted three stunning lots, with the Reynard especially palate-staining, but Allemand had not yet decided how he could combine these three components into two bottlings.)’ – Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 95/100 (Jan 2008)

Dumien-Serrette Cornas Patou 2009

‘A completely different animal is the beautiful 2009 Cornas Patou, which possesses a saturated purple color along with a sweet perfume of creme de cassis, charcoal, white flowers and licorice, a full-bodied, rich mouthfeel and a beautiful texture. It should provide plenty of enjoyment over the next 10-15 years.’ - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 91-93/100 (Feb 2011)

Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2005

‘Very juicy, with lots of dark blackberry and boysenberry fruit backed by ripe, fully imbedded tannins. Has fine cut, with a chalky minerality that lurks underneath. Compact for now, this should blossom in the cellar.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 92/100 (Aug 2007)

‘Deep violet. Fresh red and dark berry aromas are complicated by violet, minerals and black olive. Bitter cherry and raspberry preserve flavors are firmed by youthful tannins, becoming more tangy with air. Gains energy on the finish, offering impressively focused, vibrant red- and blackcurrant character.’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 91/100 (Jan 2008)

Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2007

‘Dark, rich, savoury Syrah fruit. Dark and pure. But also remarkably perfumed, even a little floral on the nose and mid palate. Northern Rhône Syrah at its best without the oft-maligned astringency of Cornas. Tannins are firm but they still melt in the mouth and provide just the right level of support for that pure minerally fruit. Some sweet vanilla oak on the nose just now but very subtle. Dense and meaty on the palate but meaty in a youthful way not in a gamey developed way.’ - Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 18/20 (Oct 2009)

‘Saturated red. Perfumed aromas of raspberry and blackberry, with dusty mineral and violet notes picking up power with air. Impressively pure and precise red fruit flavors stain the palate, braced by zesty minerality. Really graceful for a Cornas, finishing with brisk cut and spicy focus.’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 91/100 (Jan 2010)

Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 2011

‘Layered and reasonably approachable, the 2011 Cornas Granit 30 possesses fantastic notes of violets, crushed rock, plum, blackberry and spring flowers to go with a medium to full-bodied, rich, yet elegant and seamless feel on the palate. Give it a couple years and enjoy it through 2026.’ - Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, 94/100 (Dec 2013)

‘Bright ruby. Dark berry and spicecake aromas are lifted by cracked pepper and fresh flowers. Seamless and precise on the palate, offering gently sweet black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that put on weight with air. Closes on an appealingly sweet note, with impressive clarity and fully absorbed tannins.’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 91/100 (Mar 2014)

Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60 2011

‘A bigger, richer style, the 2011 Cornas Granit 60 is one of the stars of the vintage. Offering up a layered, complex bouquet of black fruits, smoked herbs, charcoal, mint and crushed rock, it flows onto the palate with a voluptuous, blockbuster-styled texture that carries brilliant levels of fruit, sweet tannin and moderate acidity. Given the additional fruit and texture here, it’s actually more approachable than the Granit 30 at the moment; nevertheless, it will evolve gracefully for 15 years or more, and is an awesome wine.’ - Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, 94/100 (Dec 2013)

‘Opaque ruby. Ripe cherry, blueberry and violet on the deeply perfumed nose. Sappy and expansive, offering intense dark fruit compote flavors energized by peppery spice and mineral qualities. Shows outstanding clarity and power on the finish, which is framed by smooth, slow-mounting tannins and sharpened by juicy acidity.’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 92/100 (Mar 2014)

Provenance

Private Client