"Inky purple. Highly perfumed aromas of candied dark berries, black pepper, olive paste and violet, with slow-building spiciness. Sappy, penetrating and lively on the palate, offering vibrant blackberry and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of cola. Closes spicy and long, with a sneaky floral nuance and velvety tannins. - JR"
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar (Mar/Apr 2013), 90 pts
"The 2011 Cornas reveals supple, silky tannins as well as the essence of blackberry and licorice notes intermixed with hints of beef blood and flowers. It is fruit-forward, soft and impressive. These are both impressive vintages from this up-and-coming young Cornas producer."
Wine Advocate (Robert Parker, issue #204, December 2012), 90-93 pts
"Moving to the reds and a locked and loaded barrel sample, the 2012 Cornas exhibits gorgeous black and blue fruits, lavender, violets, crushed rock and assorted background meatiness. This medium to full-bodied, supple and voluptuously textured Cornas has good mid-palate depth, juicy acidity and an overall, pure, nicely focused profile. Enjoy it over the coming 10-12 years.- JD"
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #210, December 2013), 91-94 pts
"About as polished and elegant as they come from the appellation, Michel's 2012 Cornas offers rocking crème de cassis, raspberry, spice, toasted bread and licorice to go with an elegant, medium to full-bodied profile. Possessing no hard edges and slightly hidden, sweet tannin, this is an awesome wine that will have 15+ years of sexy drinking. - Jeb Dunnuck"
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #216, December 2014), 95 pts
"Opaque ruby. Ripe blueberry, cassis, licorice and olive on the highly perfumed nose, along with a smoky bacon nuance. Broad, spicy and concentrated, offering dark berry flavors complemented by hints of peppery spices and bitter chocolate. Dusty tannins and an echo of licorice join the very long, spicy finish. - Josh Raynolds"
- Vinous (March 2016), 91 pts
"Distinctive, featuring a gorgeous frame of loam and roasted alder around a core of macerated dark currant, plum and blackberry fruit, this nonetheless stays vibrant and racy, with a blaze of iron defining the finish, backed by a mouthwatering white pepper note. Youthfully tight, so let this unfurl in the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2029. 150 cases made."
- Wine Spectator (October 2016), 93 pts
"Opaque ruby. Heady dark berry, incense, olive and Indian spice aromas show excellent clarity and pick up a smoky mineral nuance with air. Broad, sappy and appealingly sweet, offering intense black and blue fruit and spicecake flavors and a suggestion of candied licorice. Tightens up on the impressively persistent finish, which features blueberry and cracked pepper notes and building tannins. - Josh Raynolds"
- Antonio Galloni's Vinous (July 2017), 92 pts
