2007 Domaine Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard

($110) Inky purple. Deeper and more powerful on the nose than the Chaillot, displaying pungent aromas of cassis, boysenberry, violet, dark chocolate and licorice. Surprisingly lithe on the palate following the richness of the nose, offering vibrant dark berry flavors and a note of refreshingly bitter cherry skin. Turns spicier with air, finishing with strong cut and a persistent floral quality. I really like this wine's blend of masculine character and vibrancy.

Author: Josh Raynolds

Issue: January/February 2010

Dark, with lots of mulled plum and currant fruit, but racy, with anise, graphite and tangy olive notes that help the fine-grained finish stretch out. Still tight overall, but there's density and drive here for the cellar, with a latent hint of lavender adding extra dimension.

Author: James Molesworth