2006 Cornas Vieilles Vignes
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Tasting notes
Pure granite soils, vines aged 50+ years. Deep ruby with soft rim. Sweet and succulent with dark fruit. Sweet but not overly so – still such youthful and primary fruit aromas on an 11-year-old wine. Pepper and spice and all things nice. Still nicely chewy on the finish but with the fruit to fill out the core. A rich, chewy and satisfying youngster with just the start of a more leathery, complex maturity. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
More open and ready to go than the Vieilles Fontaines, the beautiful 2006 Cornas Vieilles Vignes offers classic notes of black olives, scorched earth, beef blood and black currants. Medium to full-bodied, layered, ripe and even sexy, yet still fresh and lively, drink it anytime over the coming decade.
Gorgeous, and surprisingly refined, the 2006 Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Vignes possesses a youthful, deep purple color, as well as classic, elegant aromas of brambly blackberry and raspberry fruits, crushed flowers, spiced meat, and tar on the nose. This gains underlying minerality and cigar notes with air, and really needs 2+ hours to show its best now. On the palate, the wine is medium bodied with a smooth, silky texture, noticeable but integrated acidity, solid concentration, and a fantastic, focused finish. While elegant and refined, this keeps a wild, rustic edge that is Cornas. Beautiful now, this should continue to improve for 3-5 years, and then drink well for a decade.
NB older vintage. Dark crimson. Very middle aged. Much more suppressed nose than the 2009. Smooth and glossy and sappy and savoury. A bit heavier and chewier than a Côte Rôtie would be. Tannins need to settle just a little, I think. (JR)