A big step up, the 2011 Cornas Arenes Sauvages is a beauty! Rich, mineral-laced and loaded with black fruits, barbecue, vanilla and assorted floral notes, this medium to full-bodied effort hits the palate with a seamless, pure texture, no hard edges and good overall freshness. It’s impressive and will have 10-15 years of longevity. I was blown away by this lineup, and it’s rare to find this level of consistent quality from a co-op. Part of the secret here is that, in addition to requiring long-term contracts, paying for the quality of the grapes and owning their own vineyards, they also operate a state of the art cellar that allows them to process just about any size lot they choose. This is a no-expense-spared operation and the results speak for themselves. Looking at the 2011s, all of the Hermitage releases are impressive and show the vintage nicely. Importer: OWS Imports, Karl Runge