The tightly-knit, inky/purple-colored 2000 Cornas Vieilles Vignes reveals sweet aromas of liquid stones, white flowers, blackberries, and cassis with a hint of wood in the background. This offering admirably reveals the appellation’s terroir. Well-endowed and muscular with abundant tannin, this pure, impeccably made Cornas will be at its finest between 2006-2014. Importer: New Castle Imports, Myrtle Beach, SC; tel. (843) 448-9463

(15% new oak) Good medium ruby. Ripe aromas of black fruits and black olive tapenade. Fat, sweet and rich, with lively violet and licorice notes and firm underlying structure. Not hugely fat but fresh and persistent. Late hint of inky licorice. From another barrel: Blueberry and blackberry aroma complicated by a hint of gunflint. Silky and elegant, with good volume and plenty of personality. Should make a very good 2000.

100% Syrah, decomposed granite soils, total de-stemming, fermented in small stainless-steel vats, matured in oak barrels (20% new). Notably dark crimson. Ambitious cross between the authentic style of Clape with the more modern winemaking of Colombo. Rich, ripe and really rather delicious with some freshness of fruit although distinctly dry and dusty on the finish. No shortage of weight here. I’d wait just a little. (JR)