Tardieu-Laurent, Hermitage 2001

Deep red, some rust.

Not as wild as the Cornas - oak spice, caramel, herbs, breakfast sausage, black raspberry nose. Though, as it airs, it does resemble it, but a bit more refined.

Deeper in the mouth, but not as expressive at the moment. Smoke and herbs the dominant flavors, with acid-edge cutting into the mid-palate. Deep, smoky character re-emerges, but this isn't shaking the fun stuff yet. I'm not sure it's better than the Cornas VV.

$80