Alary Cairanne L'Estévenas 2020

95 points Matt Walls (Decanter): "Amazing aromatic expression, a kind of black olive caramel, with hints of cardamom. I could smell this all day. Medium- to full-bodied, but no excess flesh or weight on the palate which shows blackberries, dark chocolate, a great rising freshness, length and a raspberry finish. Strongly characterful and of great quality, it's complex, precise, defined and thrilling. From a parcel of Serine-clone Syrah planted in 1960, very early for the area. Likely to offer very good value for money. Drinking Window: 2022-2030. (9/30/21)"

93 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The flagship 2020 Cairanne L'Estevenas is a blend of Grenache and Syrah that's all from the lieu-dit La Font d'Estévenas, raised in used barrels. The Syrah really sings here, and it has a Côte Rôtie-like perfume of black raspberries, smoked game, white truffles, spring flowers, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it offers a layered, seamless mouthfeel, plenty of building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. This complete, complex, incredibly impressive Cairanne will evolve for another decade. Drink: 2023-2033. (3/16/23)"

93 points Joe Czerwinski (Wine Advocate): "The Syrah-heavy 2020 Cairanne L'Estevenas is a super expression of Southern Rhône Syrah. Supported by enough Grenache to flesh out the mid-palate, it offers up scents of cracked pepper, asphalt, black olives, espresso and loamy earth. It's full-bodied and concentrated yet silky on the palate, with a lingering, slightly warm finish. Cooler vintages typically allow this wine to show more complexity and nuance, but this is a very successful wine despite the year's warmth. Drink: 2023-2033. (5/16/24)"

****(*) John Livingstone-Learmonth (Cradle of the Rhône): "Dark red; has a ripely centred bouquet, with a note of cloister, locked up, can billow out with time. The palate has a very fine thread of iron through it, which keeps its shape, connects to its soils, sustains into a gourmand finish, plenty of richness there. It’s a savoury, well filled Cairanne, serve in a large glass. Floral notes appear on the aftertaste. There is complexity here, in a discreet way, while the length is good, shows a little detail. 14.5°. From 2024-25. 2040-42. Feb 2023"