Presented in three components: #1) La Côte: intense spice- and mineral-tinged black currant and bitter cherry scents and a sexy floral topnote. Sweet and focused in the mouth, displaying sappy black and blue fruit flavors and a strong jolt of peppery spices on the back half. #2) Sabarotte: more densely packed, offering highly perfumed black and blue fruit aromas. Shows impressive depth to the blueberry, cherry liqueur and spicecake flavors, which pick up a smoky nuance on the back half. Plays power off finesse in superb fashion. #3) old vines in Reynard: vibrant, mineral-laced dark fruit liqueur qualities on the nose and in the mouth. Completely stains the palate and displays remarkable persistence on the penetrating finish, which eventually leaves a sweet floral note behind.

Lastly, the 2017 Cornas showed incredibly well. A great vintage for the Northern Rhône, it has textbook aromas and flavors. Due to yields, no Renaissance cuvée was produced, so readers need to grab bottles of this while they can. Revealing a deep purple color as well a sweet nose of dark fruits, currants, ground pepper, bloody meat, and iron, the 2017 hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a powerful, dense mid-palate, huge minerality, and enough tannins to warrant 7-8 years of bottle age. Pierre-Marie Clape and his son Olivier continue to make some of the most impressive (as well as singular) wines in the world from their tiny cellar in Cornas. This is a bastion of traditional winemaking and the wines are not destemmed, see long fermentations, and aging in ancient barrels and casks. While they didn’t release a Renaissance cuvée in 2017 due to tiny yields, their Cornas is stunning stuff not far off what was achieved in 2010 and 2015. I suspect the 2018 will match, or exceed, the 2017.

Harmonious and succulent, but far from full complexity at this stage. Seems to be settling in for a long ride. (RH)

This is decidedly funky. Meat, blood and fur; plum, black pepper, olive brine and vanilla. Lots of brett as well and a bit rustic. Coarse tannins. This is a serious, edgy wine and is definitely not for everyone. If you like funky Syrah, though, this is for you. (JRL)