2012 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard, Rhone, France

Thierry Allemand’s Reynard is the domaine’s old-vine expression of Cornas, produced from 34–90-year-old Syrah rooted in steep, decomposed-granite slopes. Allemand farms organically by hand, ferments with stems, and ages the wine for 24 months in seasoned foudres and barriques before bottling unfined and unfiltered with very little sulfur. The powerful 2005 vintage gives Reynard exceptional depth and structure, with cassis, blackberry, violet, smoked meat, olive, licorice, graphite, and crushed stone layered across a dense, velvety palate with fine-grained tannins and a remarkably long, mineral-driven finish.

96 points -Wine Spectator
95 points -Vinous