Tasted blind. Pithy apple-skin nose with medium body, soft acidity and a touch of nutty character to finish. Good, standard Châteauneuf

Peppery, meaty and blueberry aromas emerge on the nose of the 2018 Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre. Never one of the house's biggest or burliest bottlings, it's medium to full-bodied, with a silky feel on the palate and ample length on the finish. The vineyard is on a gentle slope near the very top of the appellation.

Inky violet color. Deeply pitched cherry, blueberry, licorice and candied violet aromas are complemented by hints of baking spices, incense and smoky minerals. Succulent and penetrating on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black/blue fruit, spice and floral pastille flavors that become more energetic as the wine slowly stretches out. Weighty and broad yet lively as well, finishing with sharp delineation, mounting tannins and outstanding, floral- and mineral-driven persistence

The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from the firm's vineyards on the western half of the Hermitage slope, primarily Le Méal, but with substantial contributions from Les Rocoules and Les Bessards. Classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha and roasted meat are joined by hints of baking spices in a wine that's full-bodied, deep, dense and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It's lower in alcohol than the 2018, less voluptuous and maybe just a step behind that monumental wine, but it's still a serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it.