2011 Cornas Lieu Dit Les Eygats

The 2011 Cornas Lieu-Dit Les Eygats comes from one of the well-known plots located in the southern portion of the appellation, relatively high up on the slope. It's a pretty, complex effort that exhibits ample raspberry, flowers, powdered rock-like minerality and hints of background meatiness to go with an elegant, finesse-driven feel on the palate. Showing fine tannin, medium-bodied richness and a supple texture, it should drink nicely for 10-12 years. Across the board, this is a superb lineup of wines that delivers high quality at all price points. Run by the team at Chapoutier, headed by Pierre-Henri Morel, the wines are made by Damien Brisset. This was a large tasting and I've simply listed the wines in the order we went through them. Within a vintage, the wines are broken up into three categories, the traditional releases, the Lieu-Dit releases, and the selections parcellaires releases. The 2011s are slightly softer and more streamlined than the 2012s. As a whole, they offer charming, supple and more medium-bodied profiles that will reward earlier drinking. Looking at the traditional releases in 2011, these wines show classic, yet approachable and delicious characters. In most cases they represent good value. Importer: A French Paradox, Peoria, IL; tel. (309) 682-8994

Glass-staining purple. Ripe cherry and blackberry aromas are complicated by suggestions of licorice, violet and smoky minerals. Broad, juicy and deep on the palate, offering densely packed dark fruit preserve flavors and a hint of candied violet. Rich but energetic, with strong finishing thrust, fine-grained tannins and very good, sappy persistence.