1 | Wine | Shiraz / Syrah, Rhone, 2010

"This has nice character, with chestnut and bay leaf aromas followed by gutsy flavors of blackberry and plum paste. A tarry edge takes over on the finish, but this stays fresh and driven."

"The 2010 Cornas Renaissance may be the finest example of the cuvee I have yet tasted. This offering represents about one-third of the Clape production and tends to come from two well-known sites in the natural amphitheater of Cornas, Les Sabarottes and Geynale. This astonishing 2010 boasts a black/purple color along with gorgeous, explosive aromatics consisting of blue and black fruits and spring flowers, a full-bodied, layered texture and superb intensity. Very pure with sweet tannin, it was bottled unfiltered after 22 months in primarily foudre, and should drink well for two decades." -Robert Parker

"The other 2010 that readers need to keep a sharp eye out for is the 2010 St.-Joseph. One of the sleeper cuvees of the entire cellar, ground pepper intermixed with tapenade, creme de cassis, and smoky barbecue notes are followed by a wine with great fruit, good acidity, and striking minerality. It should drink well for a decade or more." -Robert Parker

"This delivers a briar-framed core of plum sauce and anise, backed by sweet tobacco and light toasty vanilla bean on the finish, and there's good chalky minerality running underneath it all. Very solid."

"Vivid purple. Pungent, spice- and floral-accented aromas of black and blue fruits and licorice, with a peppery topnote. Sappy, incisive and pure, offering intense black raspberry and boysenberry flavors that put on weight in the glass. Shows excellent clarity and power on the finish, which features silky tannins and zesty minerality."