Notes:

(made with 20% whole clusters):  Opaque purple.  Sexy, complex bouquet of fresh dark berries, incense, potpourri and star anise.  Lively, sharply focused and pure, with sappy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors complicated by suave spicecake and floral pastille accents.  Supple tannins come on late and add shape to the long, spicy, penetrating finish. Steve Tanzer 92-94

Also incredible, and almost as good, the 2012 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes (20 months in 15% new oak) offers up layers of creme de cassis, blackberry, charred herbs, earth and hints of flowers to go with a lively, pure and incredibly focused profile on the palate. Slightly more fresh and lively than the Les Vieilles Fontaines (which has more richness), this beautiful effort should also be given a handful of years in the cellar and have upwards of two decades of life. Wine Advocate 94-96