Saint-Joseph, La Sabarotte 2018

Jeb Dunnuck 97/100

An almost Hermitage-like bouquet of burning embers, cassis, graphite, woodsmoke, and spring flowers emerges from the 2018 Cornas La Sabarotte, which comes from a tiny, south-facing vineyard in this heralded appellation. Massive, full-bodied, tannic, and lengthy, it's a candidate for the wine of the vintage in Cornas. It needs 4-5 years of bottle age, but it’s a brilliant, magical wine that will keep for 20-25 years.

Vinous 95/100

Saturated ruby color. Powerfully scented dark fruit liqueur, incense, vanilla, olive and exotic spice qualities on the nose, along with hints of cured tobacco and smoked meat. Offers palate-staining, deeply concentrated black and blue fruit, candied violet, cola, exotic spice and espresso flavors that smoothly blend depth and energy. Finishes youthfully chewy and precise, with steadily building tannins, resonating dark fruit, mineral and floral notes and superb persistence. All new oak.