2017 Cornas

Lower main slopes (Combes) and a very high section at 350 m (Chaban). Picked three weeks apart. This Cornas was the Rhône wine he started with back in 2009. 75% whole bunch. No new oak. Tank sample. Dark crimson. Slightly reductive in a smoky way. (It’s in tank so he needs to rack it again to ‘crack the H2S molecules’.) Tangy black fruit and a touch of smoky bacon. Deep, chewy and lots of richness and spice. As the smokiness blows off you get more violet scent and a touch of vanilla. Chewy yet rounded. Rich, dark and powerful but not heavy because of that stemmy lift and good freshness. (JH)