Cornas
Controlled appellation
Chapelle Saint-Pierre
The oldest vines planted (5000m2 in 1999) went partly into the blend of our cuvee “Les Vieilles Vignes” coming from the hillsides. Always vinified and aged separately, the singular identity of this wine inspired us to produce a single vineyard wine, unique and rare, as it is made only when perfect balance is achieved.
Organic and biodynamic methods are used for the entire domain.
TERROIR
Alain Voge was one of the first wine producers to plant vines atop Cornas appellation, around the chapel “Saint-Pierre-aux-Liens”. He was indeed convinced that, on these granitic slopes at elevations of 400m, both freshness and finesse would meet to make a great wine.
2021 VINTAGE
An opposite vintage…The historical frost on April 8th hit our vineyard in Saint-Péray and the bottom of Cornas, after a too hot episode in February.50 % in Saint-Péray were finally lost, and only 2 wines were produced: Harmonie and Fleur de Crussol, showing a very beautiful quality, coming from the freshness of the season.In Cornas, the yields of the slops have almost compensated the missing frozen harvest. The very rainy (896 mm/m²) and late season (harvest from September 13th to October 2nd) offer an “old-school” vintage, fresh, delicate and smooth, with lower level of alcohol, but less time lag between alcoholic and phenolic ripeness than in the hot and dry vintages.
OUR VINE GROWING AND WINEMAKING
• Organic certification for the vines and wine in the 2016 vintage and biodynamic methods used.
• Syrah vines trained and pruned in Cordon de Royat style and supported by wires.
• Hand-picked harvests.
• Total destemming.
• Fermentation with natural yeasts and maceration for several weeks in stainless steel vats, with cap-punching and pumping-over done twice a day.
• Maturation in 228-litre barrels for 20 months, without new oak
• Amount of sulphite reduced: 58 mg/l total SO2 (100 mg/litre authorised in organic winemaking)
• Production : 3.953 bottles / 210 magnums
• Ageing potential: 15 years
COMMENTS
2019 vintage: "(from barrels) dark red; the nose is elegant, holds up well, reveals aromas of raspberry and blackberry, has a sunny curve, is pretty and approachable. The palate begins with an aromatic, floral note, gains in density, offers a lively, clean tone, and is also elegant, with a freshness that is very much in evidence. It reflects a well-applied vinification, with an intensity of small red fruit towards the finish. 13°. From 2026+. 2044-46."
John Livingstone – Drink Rhône (11/2022) : ****
