1991 Cornas

From a vintage that continues to impress, Verset's 1991 Cornas is youthfully bright and ruby-red in color, with lively cherry pit, redcurrant, floral pastille and rhubarb aromas that are complicated by notes of olive and cracked pepper. The wine puts on weight and takes a darker turn with air, picking up notes of mulberry and bitter chocolate. Smooth, sweet and smoky on the finish, with only a trace of gentle tannins that sneak in late and add gentle grip. It's fully mature but I suspect that there's at least another decade of pleasurable drinking ahead here.

From ancient vines planted on steep terraces above his tiny, dark, dinghy cellar, Verset consistently produces the finest wine from Cornas. The 1991 (from an underrated vintage for northern Rhone appellations such as Condrieu, Cote Rotie and Cornas) possesses a dense, opaque black/purple color and a huge, sweet perfume of cassis, truffles, and licorice. Exceptionally opulent and super-concentrated with low acidity, this full-bodied wine is ideal for drinking over the next 10-12 years. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA.

From ancient vines planted on steep terraces above his tiny, dark, dinghy cellar, Verset consistently produces the finest wine from Cornas. The 1991 (from an underrated vintage for northern Rhone appellations such as Condrieu, Cote Rotie and Cornas) possesses a dense, opaque black/purple color and a huge, sweet perfume of cassis, truffles, and licorice. Exceptionally opulent and super-concentrated with low acidity, this full-bodied wine is ideal for drinking over the next 10-12 years. Dec 1993, www.robertparker.com