2010 Cornas Empreintes
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Tasting notes
Dark purple. A heady bouquet presents candies, dark berries, cherry-cola, licorice and potpourri. Offers intense black and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors given lift and spine by juicy acidity; becomes spicier with air. Closes with a blast of peppery spices and gentle tannic grip, leaving a floral note behind.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
A true blockbuster from this mind-blowing vintage in the Northern Rhone, it will be fun to compare the 2010 Cornas Empreintes with the 2009 over the next few decades. As opaque as a moonless night, this black/purple-colored 2010 reveals notes of incense, camphor, charcoal, flowers, blueberries and blackberry liqueur. It is enormously endowed and full-bodied with good minerality as well as a fabulous multidimensional texture and a finish that lasts nearly 50 seconds. Give it several years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. This up-and-coming small estate is run by brothers Eric and Joel Durand, who made terrific wines in 2009, top-class 2010s and impressively strong efforts from the more challenging 2011 vintage. All three Cornas cuvees are noteworthy. The Durands have also been successful in St.-Joseph. Importer: Paul M. Young Fine Wines, Los Angeles, CA; tel. (213) 232-5199