2016 Cornas La Sabarotte

Lastly, the 2016 Cornas La Sabarotte is more plump, rounded, and sexy, with thrilling amounts of plum and black fruits, barbecue smoke, licorice, and spiced meat aromas and flavors. With moderate acidity, a massive, sexy texture, sweet tannins, and a great finish, it’s unquestionably one of the most flamboyant, sexy wines in the vintage. Drink it any time over the coming decade. These 2016s and 2017s from the Courbis brothers are terrific follow-ons to their brilliant 2015s. The 2016 Cornas are some of the finest in the vintage and have sexy, ripe profiles that offer more pleasure than most. The 2017s are in the same ballpark, with slightly more upfront charm and approachability. In addition to the Cornas releases, this team is turning out some heavenly Saint Josephs!

(100% new oak) Lurid bright-rimmed purple. Intensely perfumed, oak-spiced aromas of dark berry liqueur, incense and potpourri are energized by a smoky mineral flourish. Sweet and seamless in the mouth, offering densely packed yet lithe blackberry and cherry-vanilla flavors along with suggestions of candied violet, spicecake and mocha. The floral and mineral notes resonate strongly on an impressively long, penetrating finish that features harmonious tannins.

The top Cornas here is the 2016 Cornas la Sabarotte. It’s aging in 80% new oak until being bottled in June 2018. Yes, it’s an unabashedly modern style, full-bodied, creamy in texture and offering pristine purple raspberry fruit, but man is this good. It will be hard to keep from drinking this in its first 5-10 years.