This has density and power, with sappy black fig, mulled plum and cassis offset by savory olive tapenade and salty balsamic reduction. Maintains a nice form to support its weight, with grounding cast iron minerality and accents of bay leaf and violet on the formidable finish. Best from 2024 through 2035. 250 cases made, 20 cases imported.??–KB??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Cornas Select to Add

A juicy, energetic version, with mouthwatering damson plum, cherry and blackberry coulis flavors darting through, accented by iron and white pepper hints. There's some floral lift on the finish that marries deftly with the fruit, as does the bright, chalky minerality. Best from 2023 through 2035. 200 cases made, 20 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Cornas Select to Add

Dark and winey, with a large core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit, infused liberally with sage, sweet tapenade, bay leaf and violet notes. The long finish pulls everything together into a dense but defined beam. Best from 2022 through 2040. 580 cases made, 25 cases imported.??–JM??Region: France / Northern Rh?ne / Cornas Select to Add

Looking much better than the sample I reviewed last year, the 2016 Cornas Vieilles Fontaines has come into its own. It's still cedary but also mammothly concentrated in blackberry and plum fruit, all underscored by notes of crushed granite. Full-bodied and muscular, it's elegant at the same time, with mouthwatering, juicy fruit and softly dusty tannins on the long finish.