2003 Cornas La Sabarotte

Bright purple. Rich, powerful aromas of raspberry, blackberry and strong oak spice. Dense and velvety, with powerful but lush flavors of berries and plum, accented by exotic spices. The tannins are barely noticeable here and the fat, sweet finishing flavors really cling to the palate. (JR)

(done entirely in new oak; this was racked in December of 2003 after the end of the malolactic fermentation but not since then) Saturated ruby-blue. Flamboyant, wild aromas of black raspberry, roasted meat, dark chocolate and nutty oak; slightly reduced. Then thick, sweet and downright sexy, with expressive flavors of black cherry, black raspberry and grilled meat. This shows the roasted side of the 2003 vintage, but in a positive way. A huge, deep Cornas that somehow avoids heaviness and finishes with big, chewy, thoroughly ripe tannins.

An impressive effort that’s still youthful and lively, the Courbis brothers’ 2003 Cornas La Sabarotte (which spent 18 months in 100% new French oak) offers knockout aromas and flavors of black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, new leather, charcoal and wild herbs. Medium to full-bodied, with fabulous concentration and depth, it still needs another year or two, and will drink nicely through 2028. Apr 2014, www.robertparker.com