2014 Cornas Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
(made with 20 percent whole clusters and 20 percent new oak) Youthful purple. High-pitched, mineral-accented aromas of blackberry, cherry and olive paste are complemented by an incense note and a strong suggestion of smoky Indian spices. Sappy, pliant and alluringly sweet, offering palate-coating black and blue fruit and spicecake flavors and a subtle hint of vanilla. Finishes sweet, focused and extremely long, displaying smoky mineral and floral pastille notes and velvety, slow-building tannins.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Similar in style, yet more backward and concentrated, the 2014 Cornas les Vieilles Vignes (18 months in 15% new French oak) offers impressive amounts of graphite, black and blue fruits, licorice and scorched earth in its medium to full-bodied, concentrated, focused style. It needs 2-3 years of cellaring and will drink well for a decade.
Bright purple. Complex, highly perfumed scents of dark fruit liqueur, violet and olive paste gain urgency and lift from bright mineral and spice notes. Juicy and sharply focused in the mouth, offering intense boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors underscored by a smoky mineral nuance. Shows outstanding power and energy, finishing spicy and very long, with a resonating floral quality and slow-building tannins.
Compact, understated nose then a lovely succulence and generosity on the palate with superb fragrance and subtle but opulent spice. Fine chewiness on the finish. Energetic fruit quality. Great persistence. (RH)