2003 Cornas Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
I absolutely loved both of these Cornas from Alain Voge. Starting out with their old vine cuvee, the 2003 Cornas Vieilles Vignes is evolving nicely with perfumed, if not pretty (which is surprising for Cornas), aromas of blackberry and kirsch-styled fruit, licorice, roasted meats and tinges of black olive. This leads to a medium to full-bodied Cornas that has beautiful mid-palate concentration, notable freshness and definition, and a terrific finish that highlights still present and chewy tannin. Drink it anytime over the coming 7-8 years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
A great wine, the 2003 Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Vignes shows ripe, slightly roasted fruit notes that are mixed with cedar, flowers, spiced meat and wood aromas. The palate is outstanding and has plenty of ripe, rich fruit, decent acidity and a killer lush texture. Everything is well balanced and subtle, ripe tannins show up on the long finish where this picks up a milk chocolate edge. This is surprisingly soft and easy going. I double decanted this wine 4 hours before the tasting and actually thought it showed more complexity right after opening and seemed slightly simple later in the evening.
Deep ruby-red. Intense aromas of cassis, creme de mure, dark chocolate and violet pastille. Full and broad in flavor and texture, the dark berry tones framed by dusty tannins that grow stronger with aeration. Solidly structured but fine-grained on the finish.
Medium-deep red. Aromas of blackberry jam, licorice and chocolatey torrefaction; medicinal in a ripe way. Then fat, sweet and chewy, with a creamy-rich, seamless texture. Flavors run the gamut from dark berry jam to menthol. Finishes with big, broad, building tannins and excellent persistence.