A fantastic wine from an epic vintage, the 2010 Clape Cornas is still at least five years away from hitting its stride, and I suspect it will still be impressing lucky wine-lovers for at least a decade after that. A hugely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black/blue fruits, candied flowers, incense, olive paste and Moroccan spices, with only a hint of gaminess in the background. Deeply concentrated and energetic, there’s an uncanny balance of richness and energy to the sweet black currant, cherry preserve and fruitcake flavors. Fine-grained tannins make a late appearance but are quickly absorbed by the lush, creamy fruit. I’d be in no hurry to drink this, but with a bit of aeration it’s a stunner.

Ratcheting things up to almost unreal levels of concentration and aromatic complexity is the 2010 Cornas. Its dense inky/purple color is followed by a stunning bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, creosote, charcoal, incense and a hint of flowers. This massive Syrah possesses undeniable minerality, remarkably sweet fruit, fabulous precision and focus, and 25-30 years of evolution. Give it 5-7 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 3 decades. (Not yet released) This historic reference point for the wines of Cornas is one of the world’s most enviable small estates. Long run by Auguste Clape, who has slowly moved into retirement, turning the reins over to his talented son, Pierre-Marie, the quality of the Clape wines has been brilliant since I began visiting the estate over 30 years ago. I believe the 2009 and 2010 Cornas are the finest wines they have yet produced ... and that’s saying something. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524

Best vintage since 1990 and 1978, according to Olivier Clape. Meat and chocolate on the palate. Incredible intensity on the finish. Very bold and muscular, with a long life ahead of it – yet the tannins aren’t too harsh at this still-young age. There is clearly more to come in terms of flavour development. (RH)

Eclipsing even the 2009, the 2010 Cornas achieved one of the highest natural alcohol levels (14%) ever recorded at Clape. This complex, inky/purple-colored effort boasts abundant notes of charcoal, licorice, blackberries and blueberries intermixed with a hint of scorched earth (or is it charcoal embers?), a full-bodied mouthfeel, a seamless personality and a crushed rock-like minerality. The tannins are so sweet it will be drinkable in 2-3 years, and should keep for 25 or more. It is a tour de force in what Syrah can achieve in this hallowed appellation. Kudos to the Clape family, especially Pierre-Marie. Robert Parker #204 Dec 2012 >

Surpassing the 2009 (which is also heavenly) and as good a Cornas as I've ever tasted, the 2010 Cornas is just now coming out of its shell and offers an incredible array of black and blue fruits, scorched earth, charred meats, leather, and an almost Hermitage-like burning ember character. Incredibly complex, layered, and full-bodied on the palate, it has sweet, integrated tannins, a multi-dimensional mouthfeel, flawless balance, and a liqueur of rocks-like sensation of minerality on the finish. I only wish I had bought more on release. It will continue to evolve gracefully for another 10-15 years and, I suspect, have a gradual decline thereafter. Hats off to the Clape family for this iconic Cornas that I wish every reader could taste.