2018 Cornas Reynard 0,75 l Thierry Allemand

Deep magenta. Highly perfumed dark berry, violet, smoky mineral and olive aromas show superb clarity and a touch of spiciness. Offers sweet, palate-staining blackberry, cherry-cola, succulent herb and floral pastille flavors that deepen slowly and take on a licorice nuance with aeration. Rich but lively as well, finishing with emphatic back-end cut, building tannins and impressively persistent floral, mineral and exotic spice notes.

On another level, the 2018 Cornas Reynard is a tour de force and up there with the finest Cornas to ever pass my lips. Deep purple-hued, with a gorgeous perfume of crème de cassis, blackberries, powdered granite, violets, and peppery spice, it’s full-bodied and brings another level of elegance in its tannins as well as density on the palate. Full-bodied and perfectly balanced, with ultra-fine tannins, I can’t imagine a better Cornas, nor a Cornas that holds onto such a classic representation of the appellation paired with purity, elegance, and finesse.

Assertive cherry and blue fruit preserve, potpourri and incense aromas display outstanding clarity and pick up exotic spice and smoky mineral flourishes with aeration. Pure, focused and energetic in the mouth, offering appealingly sweet blueberry, cherry liqueur and violet pastille flavors that show sharp definition and depth and a hint of smoked meat. Deepens steadily on the strikingly long, energetic finish, which features resonating florality and chewy, slowly building tannins.