2016 Jean Luc Colombo La Louvee, Cornas, France

In a cooler vintage like 2016, La Louvée’s southern exposition is a tremendous boon. The 2016 Cornas La Louvée starts with an absolutely gorgeous nose of Christmas spice and licorice. That’s complemented on the palate by rich, plummy fruit, ample weight and concentration and a long, complex, silky finish. Already approachable, it should only get better over the next 2-3 years, then drink well for at least a decade.