1 | Wine | Shiraz / Syrah, 95 or higher | Page 2

"Intensely floral scents of raspberry, blackberry, cinnamon, allspice and smoky minerals. Open-knit red and dark berry flavors are strikingly pure and underscored by a tangy note of blood orange. Extremely fresh wine with excellent finishing thrust and mineral-driven persistence. With air this became even more floral and picked up subtle tannins; I'd bet on it being very attractive in its youth." 94-96 pts.

"One of the Lato flagship wines, the 2010 Syrah Il Padrino Bien Nacido Vineyard is simply stunning in this vintage. Layers of rich, dark fruit burst from the glass in this expressive, nuanced wine. Hints of bacon fat, crushed rocks, spices and tapenade emerge over time, but readers will have to wait at least another year or two before the wine-s full personality emerges."

"The 2011 Cornas Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes offers an explosive nose of spring flowers, blackberries, blueberry liqueur, camphor and charcoal. It is a full-bodied, intensely concentrated wine that represents the essence of Cornas. The tannins are sweet, the acidity present but low and the wine is already accessible. It is capable of lasting 10-15 years." -Robert Parker

"Nose of toasty oak, crushed rock, Asian spices, violets, blackberry, and blueberry compote. It is tightly wound but impeccably balanced. Full-bodied, opulent, and intense".

"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

"Beautifully aromatic and complex on the palate, it is layered, thick, dense and tightly wound".

"Hugely aromatic, utterly seductive bouquet of kirsch, blackcurrant, olive, grilled meat and fresh flowers. Bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors pack a major punch, with slow-building tannins adding structure. Became slowly brighter with air, picking up spiced plum and cocoa flavors and finishing with supple tannins and an endless progression of dark berry qualities. "This always needs the most oxygen of these wines," Guigal noted." 96-97 pts.