Levet 2019 Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche

100% Syrah, 60% from Chavaroche (1940s), 40% from Mollard, Côte Brune, Côte Blonde (1978-80), whole bunch fermentation, 3 week vinification in 50 hl concrete vats, cap is immersed, twice daily pumping overs, held at 29°C , aged in 30% new, 70% used oak casks, barrels for 24 months.  "... full, dark red; the bouquet is alert, springy, on raspberry with a meaty take, rose hip, plums, bacon fat. This engages well on the palate, is scented, airs of violets, perfume with a suave texture also, making it appealing, rather sumptuous. It takes a good length, isn’t yet fully defined, with the attack doing much of the work for now. Its density works well, and is accompanied by bacon, floral notes, with licorice on its lasting finish. It will show well around 2029 onwards. “It has grand length,” Agnès Levet. Drink until 2048-50" (drinkrhone)

Levet, Bernard 2019 Côte-Rôtie Journaries

100% Syrah, 60% from 70 - 80 year-old vines in the west part of La Landonne, 40% 30 - 40 year-old vines on the Côte Brune, 30-50% destemmed, 3 week vinification in 50 hl concrete vats, cap is immersed, twice daily pumping overs, held at 29°C, aged either in used 600-litre oak casks or in large 30 hl barrels for 24-26 months. "dark robe; there is an easy, ripe curve to the nose, gives cooked damson plum, blackberry, has a hint of elegance, floral airs, can open nicely. The palate has good structure, the attack bold, wired, firm, thick. It holds its shape well, with a solid lining of tannin, and a compact couch of content, with thrust late on. It’s a close-knit, rempli, filled wine, whose tannins are thick, firm. “It has joli fruit, very black,” Agnès Levet. From 2026. Drink until 2047-49 (drinkrhone)

Levet, Bernard 2019 Côte-Rôtie Journaries 1.5 L

100% Syrah, 60% from 70 - 80 year-old vines in the west part of La Landonne, 40% 30 - 40 year-old vines on the Côte Brune, 30-50% destemmed, 3 week vinification in 50 hl concrete vats, cap is immersed, twice daily pumping overs, held at 29°C, aged either in used 600-litre oak casks or in large 30 hl barrels for 24-26 months. "dark robe; there is an easy, ripe curve to the nose, gives cooked damson plum, blackberry, has a hint of elegance, floral airs, can open nicely. The palate has good structure, the attack bold, wired, firm, thick. It holds its shape well, with a solid lining of tannin, and a compact couch of content, with thrust late on. It’s a close-knit, rempli, filled wine, whose tannins are thick, firm. “It has joli fruit, very black,” Agnès Levet. From 2026. Drink until 2047-49 (drinkrhone)

Gilles, Guillaume 2019 Cornas

The Gilles Cornas (Chaillot) is mostly from 40+ year-old vines on Les Grands Murs and Les Terrasses, both on Chaillot, plus older vines on Mazards and  Saveaux, Practicing organic, whole-cluster fermentation, aging in old 400 liter and 600 liter casks. "bright dark red robe; intricate airs circulate on the nose, iodine, salting, red cherry, kummel, cassis, lead pencil – it’s a stimulating debut. The palate eases along with a textured stream of pure, clear small black fruits, runs most clearly and consecutively. This has good style, calm depth, is a serious Cornas full of stimuli, one for the patient Thinkers. The length is good, violets on the aftertaste with rocky, iron notes. Expect a discreet, gradual evolution, a gain in expression of its depth. It will stay under wraps a good while. “It’s very serious, concentrated, has a lot of complexity; the juice from the grapes was exceptional,” G Gilles. 13.5°. Drink from 2028 - 2052" (drinkrhone)

Lionnet 2019 Cornas Terre Brulée

(Arrives 10/19) Domaine Lionnet has produced a superb Cornas in the hot, dry 2019 vintage, perhaps in part due to their organic farming on great terroir. From 1960s Syrah on Mazards, 1940s Syrah on Combe, also Chaillot, Pied la Vigne (oldest 1960s, 1970s), Chataignier/Saint Pierre (2008 and younger), 2-3 week whole bunch fermentation. Aged 50% 600-litre, 50% 228-litre  2-8 year oak casks 15-16 months, then 3 weeks in vat before bottling. "...attractive dark red robe; the bouquet is well together, can be stylish, blossoming to come. There is a well inset air of raspberry liqueur, with cooked plums, a cedar note, a little mystery about it. The palate combines Cornas terroir feel, powdered tannins with grip, with a rocky fusion of dark berry fruit, is highly authentic, and well manoeuvred in the context of the hot summer. This is Cornas of terroir with appealing gras that skates along well, and it goes long, too. Big marks for character here. 14°.  From 2024, decant it, drink until 2042-44" drinkrhone

Lionnet 2019 Saint-Joseph Terre Neuve

The Lionnet Saint-Joseph "Terre Neuve" is 100% Syrah (2008-2011, massale selection) from 0.38 hectare on east facing limestone with clay soils at 300 metres on Giraud Les Côtes at Châteaubourg, 2-3 week whole bunch fermentation, natural yeasts, pumping overs the first 2-3 days, then cap punching by foot, SO2 not applied until after malo, aged used 600-litre oak casks for 11 months, unfined, unfiltered. "... dark colour; iodine, cooked blackberry with mild sweetness on the nose, is a smiling affair. The palate gives mulled fruits, cherries, firm tannins on the outside, but giving on the inside. There are hints of black olives, latent sun, licorice, but also cool touches late on. This is solid quality St Jo. The degree is under 14°, against 14.7° in 2019. “It has belle finesse, tension,” Ludovic Izérable. From 2023, drink until 2035-37 ."  (drinkrhone)

Lionnet 2019 Cornas Pur Granit

From young massale-selection vines in very rocky, granite soils on Chataignier (their name) above Chaillot. 3 week whole bunch fermentation in steel & concrete vats, wild yeasts, pumping overs the first 2-3 days, then cap punching by foot, SO2 not applied until after malo, aged in 4-10 year-old 600-litre oak casks for 15-17 months.  "...full, deep red robe. The nose has a discreet aroma led by blackberry fruit, a note of prune, therefore low-key ripeness. There’s a meat stock angle, too. The palate is fleshy, rolling, with a prune, soaked fruits feel, the lightly powdered tannins ripe and bendy, the aftertaste gourmand. The young vines have brought a cheerful Cornas that is pretty open and tasty, layered.... It can be drunk now, but will offer more variety from 2023." 14°  Drink until 2040+ (drinkrhone)

Rousset 2019 Crôzes-Hermitage Les Picaudières (8/5)

 Les Picaudières is perhaps the best vineyard in Crôzes-Hermitage, formerly owned by Raymond Roure and now tended by Stéphane Rousset. It's a steep slope of granite terraces, isolated in an oak forest facing due south and protected from the wind. (In the opinion of Livingston-Learmonth in "Wines of the Northern Rhône" wine from Les Picaudières is "certainly better" than many Hermitage from the eastern part of the hill.) The vines range from 20 to 80 years-old. The grapes are hand-harvested and mostly de-stemmed. The wine ages 16 months, 40% in foudre, 60% in burgundy barrels, new to 5 year-old." In the Northern Rhône, this ranks near the top for bang to buck consistently and for terroir expression. The 2019 Crôzes-Hermitage Picaudières has a densely layered nose and palate: a quick decant reveals brambly aromas of hedge fruit (wild blackberry, blackberry, and huckleberry), pomegranate seed, and a bit of pencil lead, game, and crushed violets. The palate is similarly layered and concentrated—not extracted—boasting black fruit, Telicherry peppercorn notes, and black tea flavors astride a deeply-pitched and mouth-wateringly tangy mineral core. The prominent (and ripe) tannins that lurk beneath all that dark fruit indicate a long and bright future for those who have the patience to cellar this beauty. Lovely with a decant, but the balance is here for 15 -20 years in the cellar and beyond. Highly recommended! John McIlwain