Cornas, Northern Rhône
Noël Verset
Cornas Syrah 1996
First, the Gentaz and now, Verset?! Be still my beating heart! Noël Verset is a freaking legend. His first vintage was during the period of peace between the first and second world war which means, for most of his career, Cornas was a tough place to make a living making wine. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that things began to turn around and by that time, Noël was in his 70’s. Talk about perseverance. By the time he made this 1996 vintage, he had already started selling off some of his vineyards and by 2006, he was done making wine altogether.
And this 1996? It is lighter in color than the other wines in the Cornas line-up; almost a pale garnet with a transparent core. The nose is just crazy. I just wanted to smell it for the rest of the night. Wild mixed berries, dried purple flowers, garrigue, tobacco, and coffee. This was a Cornas of elegance and thinner on the palate relative to the Allemand and Clape. Long finish. Divine with venison, umami bomb, potato and pearl onion. Drinking very well now and could hold for longer but why? — a month ago
Thierry Allemand
Chaillot Cornas Syrah 2017
Youthful that will need a few more years. Mostly showing blue & black fruits, inky with graphite, mineral, meat, olive, licorice & violet — a month ago
Domaine Auguste Clape
Renaissance Cornas Syrah 2020
The 2020 Cornas Renaissance is delicious. It bursts with crushed violet, cured meat, menthol and black fruit aromatics. Peppery layers add more complexity. Offering increased concentration and an even riper profile than the 2022, I have no doubt that the powerful and neatly balanced 2020 Renaissance will be a long-distance runner. Medium- to full-bodied, it concludes with persistence on the complex finish. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— 21 days ago
Paul Jaboulet Aîné
La Chapelle Hermitage Syrah 1989
This was still incredibly youthful. Would never have guessed ‘89. — 4 months ago
Domaine Auguste Clape
Cornas Syrah 2020
The full-bodied 2020 Cornas is a wild thing. Concentrated and expressive, it combines all the elements that Clape-enthusiasts rave about: a juicy core of fruit, ferrous gradations, crushed flowers, meaty undertones, rustic funkiness and an herbal edge. Remarkably round tannins lend solid structure to the delicious 2020, an instant classic that shows excellent persistence on the savory finish. (Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous, March 2024)
— 21 days ago
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave
Saint-Joseph Syrah 2020
It’s always a resounding ‘YES’ for JL Chave!!
That includes this luscious and concentrated Syrah from Saint-Joseph AOC in the Northern Rhône of France.
Domaine Jean-Louis Chave is a benchmark and icon of the Rhône Valley – a family-run operation since 1481 – with an entire range of deliciousness through the Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and JL Chave Selection portfolios.
This wine is deep ruby, trending on purple. It has pronounced aromas and flavors of boysenberry, blueberry, black cherry, cassis, pomegranate, also violet, bacon, sanguine, saddle leather, pipe tobacco, clove, cigar, damp earth, and black peppercorn. Alcohol is high (14.5% ABV) with medium (+) fine-grained and well-integrated tannins, medium (+) acidity, a medium (+) body, and a long, elegant finish.
It has a rustic and savory character with robust dark fruit notes; it’s layered, complex, structured, and age-worthy, benefitting from decanting. Still, it’s tasting wonderfully now.
Cheers to JL Chave and treasures of the Rhône!! — 14 days ago
Ron Siegel
Another great btl that is structured showing finesse with beautiful aromatics of dark fruits, olive, iron, spice, crushed rock, graphite & violet. Still youthful that will continue to develop for many years. — 5 days ago