2021
COUNTRY
France
REGION
Cornas AOC
93
Intensely peppery and smoky this manages to marry full-throttle Cornas character with a velvety texture on the full-bodied palate. Intense licorice flavor on the long, well-structured palate. From the highest altitude vineyard of Cornas at 400 meters. Just half the normal yield. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.
On the right bank of the Rhone, the Saint-Pierre vineyard sits on the eastern slopes of the Massif Central in Cornas. The steep South-facing slope forms an amphitheater that protects the vines from cold winds. The vineyards here are very old, dating from ancient times. The first terraces and walls were likely made by the Romans. Legend has it that Charlemagne tasted these wines when traveling through Cornas in 840 and liked them so much that he sent some wines to his residence.
The Saint-Pierre vineyard is located on the top of the plateau near the small Chapel of Saint-Pierre. The 10- to 60-year-old Syrah vines grow on a South-facing 20-degree slope in degraded granite soils using goblet training, and produce a wine with a lot of character. The organic grapes are hand-harvested and destemmed. The maceration lasts three weeks with gentle pump overs. The wine is then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels and demi-muids – 15% of which are new. Potential to age up to 20 years
