2010 Cornas Vin Noir

Mouth-saturating fruit and a teeth-staining black color characterize the full-bodied, profound 2010 Cornas Vin Noir. This blockbuster boasts beautiful blueberry and blackberry fruit intermixed with hints of white chocolate, espresso roast, crushed rocks and spring flowers. However, this massive Cornas is excruciatingly tannic as well as very extracted and rich. Forget it for 4-5 years, and drink it over the following two decades. Impressive wines from Cornas as well as the emerging appellation of St.-Peray have been produced by Stephane Robert. All three of the 2010 Cornas are brilliant examples of wines from this bucolic appellation sitting in a natural amphitheater (largely decomposed granite and gravel) with exceptional terroirs and expositions for most of its vineyards. There are four cuvees of white St.-Peray in 2011. Importer: A Jocelyn Cambier Selection, Appellation Imports, Annapolis Junction, MD; tel. (800) 221-9916

Opaque purple. Heady, exotically perfumed bouquet evokes black and blue fruit liqueur, candied flowers and star anise, with a subtle smokiness in the background. At once rich and juicy, with intense black cherry and mulberry flavors providing excellent palate coverage. Supple tannins add shape to the long, spicy, impressively lively finish.