2005 Cornas La Sabarotte
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Tasting notes
The safest bet is the 2005 Cornas La Sabarotte. Its dense purple color is accompanied by notes of gamey meat, roasted herbs, blackberries, and asphalt. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 10-12. Importer: Russell Herman, Berkeley Heights, NJ; tel. (908) 771-9082
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Inky ruby. Powerful dark berry aromas offer compelling depth, with suave oak spice and minerals adding a seductive quality. Strikingly sweet, with broad dark berry liqueur flavors complemented by exotic violet pastille and candied licorice. Finishes with superb focus, with no loose ends or rough edges. This should go straight into the cellar.
Opaque ruby. A black hole of ripe dark fruits on the nose, underscored by candied licorice, mocha and violet pastille notes. A stunningly sweet range of dark berry flavors is supported by fresh acidity and firmed by gentle tannins that build slowly through the seemingly endless finish. This remarkably persistent wine boasts superb sweetness and concentration, but also great clarity and energy. Who said that Cornas was always rustic?