This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Domaine Champet
La Viallière Côte-Rôtie Syrah 2018
Dark violet. Spice- and mineral-accented black and blue fruit aromas show excellent definition and pick up olive, smoky bacon and candied violet notes with air. Sappy and concentrated but energetic as well, offering palate-staining blackberry, bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors that become spicier as the wine opens up. Melds power and finesse with a sure hand and finishes impressively long and sweet, with chewy tannins building steadily. All whole clusters and 10% new oak, a combination of foudres and demi-muids. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
René-Jean Dard & Francois Ribo
St. Joseph Syrah 2017
Bright violet. Pungent, mineral- and smoke-accented cherry and dark berry aromas expand slowly with air, picking up subtle olive and violet nuances. Chewy and tightly focused on entry, but opens up quickly to offer appealing sweet cherry and cola flavors. The smoky note recurs on an impressively long, gently tannic finish that leaves a suggestion of candied flowers behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
Fayolle Fils & Fille
Clos les Cornirets Vielles Vignes Crozes-Hermitage Syrah 2017
Deep, glistening ruby. Expansive blackberry and cherry compote flavors are complemented by hints of exotic spices, incense and olive. Round and fleshy but energetic as well, offering intense black and blue fruit liqueur and spicecake flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. A smoky note comes up on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, spice- and mineral-driven tenacity. This an extremely successful wine for its appellation and at the quality level of many Hermitages. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
André Perret
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2017
Inky, bright-rimmed ruby. Mineral-accented cherry, cassis and peony qualities on the highly perfumed nose, along with a building mineral nuance. Appealingly sweet and focused on the palate, offering juicy dark berry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that slowly deepen through the midpalate. Shows real energy and spicy lift on the persistent finish, which is given shape by smooth, even tannins. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
Domaine Auguste Clape
Cornas Syrah 2017
Dark, youthful purple. Powerful, smoke- and mineral-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice, olive and a hint of incense on the deeply perfumed nose. Juicy and sharply delineated in the mouth, offering concentrated, spice-laced blackberry, bitter cherry and fruitcake flavors that take on a smoky aspect as the wine opens up. In an ample but lively style, finishing juicy and extremely long, with building tannins adding framework and youthful grip. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
Éric Texier
Côtes du Rhône Brézème Syrah 2018
Deep violet. Powerful, smoke-accented dark berries, licorice and pungent flowers on the mineral-inflected nose. Chewy black and blue fruit and candied violet flavors take on a spicy aspect as the wine opens up. In a generous yet still lively style, with solid finishing thrust and dusty tannins framing a long, dark-fruit-dominated finish. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
E. Guigal
Ex Voto Hermitage Syrah 2015
Deep, glass-staining ruby. Deep-pitched aromas of cherry liqueur, blackberry, fruitcake and incense on the highly perfumed nose. Stains the palate with vibrant black and blue fruit liqueur, allspice and violet pastille flavors, enlivened by a smoky mineral nuance that builds with aeration. Shows a suave blend of richness and vivacity, and no rough edges. Spicy and expansive on the strikingly long, sappy finish, which features resonating dark berry character and youthfully chewy tannins. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
Alain Graillot
St. Joseph Syrah 2017
Dark, glistening ruby. Aromas of ripe, spice-tinged dark berries, licorice and candied flowers, along with a hint of olive paste. Silky and round on the palate, offering sweet blueberry, cherry and spicecake flavors that turn livelier on the back half. Dusty tannins add grip to a long, smoke-tinged finish that strongly repeats the cherry and spice notes. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
Aurélien Chatagnier
Cornas Syrah
Bright purple. Ripe dark berries, pungent flowers, olive paste and cracked pepper on the perfumed nose. Chewy and energetic on the palate, offering intense blackberry and bitter cherry flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Finishes on a smoky note, with repeating dark fruit character, rounded tannins and strong tenacity. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago
Delectable Wine
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Glass-staining ruby. Smoke- and spice-tinged dark berry, cherry and violet scents pick up a hint of licorice with air. In a fleshy, generous style, showing very good depth and appealing sweetness to the cherry preserve and cassis flavors, which take on a spicy aspect on the back half. Smooth, even tannins frame a long, smoky finish that leaves a hint of bitter chocolate behind. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, April 2020)
— 5 years ago