2020 Cornas La Sabarotte
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Lastly, I think the 2020 Cornas La Sabarotte is the most complete wine in the lineup. Incredibly rich and concentrated, it has a full-bodied, broad, expansive mouthfeel that carries considerable tannins as well as integrated acidity. It leans heavily toward the blacker fruited end of the spectrum and has lots of background meatiness and spice, and well as classic Cornas iron and bloody nuances. It has more accessibility than the firm, focused Les Eygats but still deserves 3-4 years of bottle age, and it will evolve for 15-20 years. Bravo!
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Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
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Glass-staining ruby color. Vibrant, mineral-accented black and blue fruits, olive, exotic spices and a potent violet note on the intensely perfumed nose. Palate-staining blackberry, bitter cherry, licorice and vanilla flavors display sharp detail and become sweeter as the wine opens up. A spicy, extremely long and chewy finish features quickly building tannins that play surprisingly well with the wine's sappy, clinging dark fruit character.
From a 1.5-hectare parcel of vines planted in 1945 (by Verset), the 2020 Cornas la Sabarotte matures in 50% new oak and 50% second use barrels. Notes of violets and purple raspberries appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is concentrated, rich and velvety, leading into a long, tannic finish. It will need a bit of time in the cellar but should be an outstanding drink around 2030.