Dark purple. Heady, smoke-accented black/blue fruits, licorice, vanilla, peony and olive paste on the intensely perfumed nose. Pliant, sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering appealingly sweet blackberry, cassis and floral pastille flavors that are energized by a core of juicy acidity. Shows excellent depth as well as liveliness and finishes impressively long and spicy, with fine-grained tannins that build steadily and add shape and firming grip. (50% new oak)

In contrast to the Champelrose, which seemed to be closing down slightly, the 2017 Cornas les Eygats was in fine form at the domaine last July. Crushed stone notes and hints of resinous herbs accent red currants and cassis in a wine that's full-bodied and velvety. It's aged in 50% new oak, yet that's barely perceptible, except perhaps in the wine's richer, plusher texture.