2016 Paul Jaboulet Aine Cornas Les Grandes Terrasses

Les Grandes Terrasses is named for the extremely steep terraces supported by small dry stone walls that overlook the Rhône Valley. These parcels on the South-facing slopes of the hill behind the village of Cornas have soil of decomposed granite called gore and produce rich, full-bodied wines. The Syrah vines are 20 to 60 years old. The grapes are hand-harvested, sorted, destemmed (100%) and crushed. The maceration lasts for 3 to 4 weeks with daily pump overs. The wine is then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, 20% of which are new. Potential to age up to 15 years.

"The charming Caroline Frey was all smiles during my visit to the Jaboulet tasting room on the main square in Tain l'Hermitage. Her Burgundy vintage was complete and very promising. And even though severe hail damage at Château La Lagune in Bordeaux resulted in no grapes being harvested there this year, it meant she could focus all her energy on the 2018s in the Rhône. We started off with the 2016s. "Hopefully, we will still have years like this," she said. "It's a vintage with more length. I like it!" There's no doubt the 2016s are successful here, but in many instances the 2017s look even better. "I'm always a little afraid of hot vintages," she said. "But I find a balance in this one." The proof is in the pudding: Some of the 2017s are the best I've ever tasted at this address." Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate