93 Points - Wine Spectator:  A perfumy red, with violet and a pronounced mineral streak alongside sanguine notes of smoked meat. Offers density and a supple feel, with juicy acidity and finely polished tannins edged in graphite holding everything together. The finish stays firm, showing a chewy hint of tobacco. Syrah and Viognier. Drink now through 2038. 180 cases imported.

Importer Notes (Kermit Lynch):  To be honest, before opening this wine, I planned to tell you to tuck away Lionel’s deep, old-school Côte-Rôtie for the next decade or so. Then I dipped my nose into a glass and let out a great big sigh of Syrah-induced satisfaction, reveling in the exuberant, juicy dark fruit aromatics melding with earthy undertones of bitter cacao. Don’t get me wrong. In ten years you’ll be over the moon if you manage to keep your hands off. But I can’t in good faith recommend that you miss out on the freshness and purity of fruit awaiting you today.