A week ago, on February 22, Lynn and I hosted a tasting of Cornas wines for the Sons of Bacchus and Daughters of Dionysus. Cornas is one of the principal appellations of the North Rhone Valley. It is situated across the Rhone River from Tain l'Hermitage and northeast of the town of Valence. By law Cornas wines must be 100% Syrah. The tasting comprised 20 wines, curated by Billo Naravane MW. There were four flights of five wines each, a few North Rhones from outside Cornas and a couple of "ringers" were included. Here are my notes on the more outstanding wines with my scores.

Flight One

2012 Domaine Balthasar Cornas, "Le Chaillot" - Semi opaque purplish colored, this possessed an enticing nose of sweet fruits, crushed roses, lavender, violets and incense. The flavors wee mouth encompassing with Syrah purity and a long, complex finish. 19.5/20 points.

2012 Jean-Luc Colombo Cornas, "Les Rochets" - This showed a deep ruby color and classic aromas of raspberry, cherry and currant, with scents of tobacco, lavender and incense. The flavors were thick, earthy and vigorous, with considerable varietal purity and a long peppery finish. 19+/20 points.

Flight Two

2015 Domaine du Tunnel Cornas, "Stéphane Robert"  - This was thick, almost massive with an intense nose of raspberries, cherries and black currants, spice, garrigue and incense. The back picked up roasted berries and nuts and a long terroir and varietal driven finish. 19.5/20 points.

2010 Domaine Lionnet Cornas, "Terre Brulée" - This wine lived up to its name with scorched earth aromas and flavors of wild fruits, garrigue (lavender, herbs) and smoldering incense. The flavors were well saturated and pure, with a long burnt charcoal and spice finish. 19.5/20 points.

In between flights two and three, Steve Maxood popped open a Champagne Camille Salvès which made a delicious, frothy nearly bone dry palate cleanser before proceeding to the following flights.

Flight Three

2015 Vincent Paris Cornas "Granit 60" - Deep ruby colored, this showed a smoky almost super ripe nose of roasted berries and scents of roses, lavender and violets. The dark fruit flavors were vivid, matching the intensity of the aromas. 19+/20 points.

2012 Vincent Paris "Granit 60" - This vintage showed a ruby-crimson color and a rich, berried nose of raspberry and cassis with scents of crushed roses, lavender and violets. The flavors were deep and taut, showing much Syrah character. 19+/20 points

Flight Four

2015 Domaine Durand Cornas "Premice" - This was one of the most attention-getting wines of the tasting. Ruby crimson colored, it possessed lovely aromas of raspberry, blueberry, cassis, roses, lavender, sweet tobacco and violets. The flavors were deep and beautifully structured with a long, pure finish. 19.5/20 points.

2015 Domaine Clape Cornas "Renaissance" - This showed a ruby-crimson color and a sweet, smoky, spicy nose of blackberries, blueberry and cassis with scents of crushed roses, lavender and violets. The flavors were thick and generous, yet focused. The chewy textured back picked up roasted berries and nuts and charcoal, followed by a long finish. 19+/20 points.

There were a couple of interesting "ringers:"

2013 Le Crête Syrah, Valle d'Aosta - This Italian Syrah showed a deep ruby color and an attractive nose of raspberry, cherry and currant with supple fruits and bright acidity, medium full bodied, spicy and peppery. 19/20 points.

2006 Pax Syrah, Mendocino County, Alder Spring Vineyard - Semi opaque colored, this showed a sweetish nose of blackberry, cassis, bayberry, tobacco and garrigue. The flavors were thick and generous, with considerable Syrah character. 19/20 points.