Bright purple. Smoke- and spice-accented aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice and pungent flowers pick up a floral nuance as the wine opens up. Plush cassis and blackberry flavors are braced by a spine of juicy acidity, and a cracked pepper flourish adds spicy cut to the back half. Becomes sweeter with air and features a hint of cola on the long, smoky finish, which features harmonious tannins and lingering florality.

A blend of several different parcels matured in older barrels, the 2018 Cornas les Chailles impresses for its distinct scents of crushed stone, red plums and red raspberries. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's nevertheless fresh and red fruited, with fine-grained tannins, a relatively open, generous feel and a gently tannic, softly dusty finish. It should drink well for at least another decade and possibly even improve over much of that time.

100% Syrah. Aged for 18 months in old oak. Cask sample. Tasted blind. Berries, blackcurrant and spice, with a light palate that lacks the gutsiness associated with traditional Cornas. A more refined style, perhaps? (RH)