2017 Chapoutier Cornas Les Arenes Syrah

96 Points, Anna Lee C. Iijima - Wine Enthusiast
Earthen layers of iron and crushed stone juxtapose lilac petals and menthol in this intensely aromatic, textbook Cornas. It's moderately full on the palate, ripe but pure in fruit, showcasing black-plum and cherry flavors. Layers of dried herb and underbrush as well as firm, coating tannins frame a long finish. Already stunning the wine should drink well past 2035.

92 Points Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate 
Chapoutier's 2017 Cornas les Arênes has closed down considerably since last year, but there are still traces of the wine's bold blackberry flavors lurking behind a wall of granitic reserve and firm tannins. Give this a long decanting, or (preferably) open it in several years' time. For now, it's tight and austere, medium to full-bodied but rather ungenerous.

91-93 Points Josh Raynold, Vinous 
Glass-staining ruby. Powerful black/blue fruit aromas, along with suggestions of licorice, violet, cocoa powder and cracked pepper. Fleshy and deeply concentrated, showing seamless texture and dark fruit preserve, mocha and floral pastille flavors accented by a smoky mineral flourish. Weighty, but comes off as elegant, showing very good focus and energy on a long, floral-tinged finish that's framed by smooth, even tannins.

Overview:
Part of the vineyard is located on decomposing granite, known locally as “gore,” the other is on alluvial clay-limestone soil. This kind of soil produces powerful, meaty wines with good tannin. This type of granite also gives the wine power and a nice taut acidity. Parcels “Les Arènes” is a combination of several parcels growing on slopes in different early and late ripening areas which synthesize the best of Cornas: Les Reynards, Patou, Champelrose, Mazards, Les Côtes.