Welcome to the ranking of the greatest Cornas wines. Find my guide to the presentation of fine wines and vintages with tasting notes from Robert Parker and the Wine Advocate.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF CORNAS WINES
Located on the right bank of the Rhône, the Cornas vineyards are on the eastern slopes of the Massif Central, which means "scorched earth" in Old Celtic. The steep, south-facing slopes form a natural amphitheater that protects the vines from the cold winds. South-facing vines ripen early, which is why this appellation is the first red to be harvested in the northern Côtes du Rhône.
Syrah is the only grape variety used in this appellation and is capable of expressing its full flavor. Cornas is known as a very dark, almost black, red wine, with purplish highlights when young, turning amber with age. It is one of France's most robust wines. Cornas wines are generally made for laying down: their tannins become rounder with age, and they develop aromas of black fruits, with a spicy, licorice-like finish.
THE CORNAS LEGEND
The vines of Cornas are very old and date back to ancient times. Legend has it that Charlemagne himself tasted the wine when he visited Cornas in 840, and liked it so much that he sent some to his residence in Aachen. Saint Louis, Louis XI, Charles V, Richelieu and Louis XV were among the most famous Cornas connoisseurs.
GREAT VINTAGES AND BEST CORNAS VINTAGES
Vintage rankings by Robert Parker & The Wine Advocate
TOP 1: Domaine Alain Voge, Cornas "Vieilles Fontaines
2010 tasting, 100/100 Jeb Dunnuck: "Even better than the 2012 - and one of the greatest Cornas I've ever tasted. It comes from a small plot of old vines and granite soils named after the fountain next to the vines. Sensually concentrated, powerful, backward and tasty as the essence of these steep granite slopes, it forgoes tons of cassis, freshly crushed stone, woodsmoke, black raspberries and grilled meats. This full-bodied beauty is as deep as they come needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will keep for 20-30 years. Robert Parker awarded this beauty 100 points when he published it, and I couldn't agree more. Hats off to Alain Voge and winemaker Albert Mazoyer."
Best vintages Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Fontaines : 2010, 2012, 2009, 2005, 2015
TOP 2: Domaine Auguste Clape, Cornas
2010 vintage tasting by Jeb Dunnuck, 99+/100: "Concentrated and structured, and needs a little age to be perfect. Nevertheless, the incredible quality is present in its purity, concentration, richness and impressive finish. Give it another 3-4 years and enjoy it over the next 15-20 (if not more). Always a fun visit, this little vertical took place in the Clape cellar in Cornas, with Pierre-Marie Clape, who now runs the estate."
Best vintages Auguste Clape Cornas : 2010, 2012, 2015, 2009, 2016
TOP 3: Domaine Courbis, Cornas "Les Eygats
The Courbis family owns almost 18 hectares in St. Joseph and 20 hectares in Cornas, making it a relatively impressive estate. The Cornas vineyards are planted in decomposed granite soils of low fertility. Cornas Les Eygats emerges from what the Courbis brothers consider their greatest microclimate, from a terraced vineyard of broken granite, planted at an altitude of 250 meters.
2010 vintage tasting by Robert Parker, 99/100: "Flirting with perfection, the 2010 Cornas Les Eygats offers a fabulous bouquet of incense, subtle smoke, black truffles, pen ink, blackberries and cassis. Massive with soft tannins and an unreal, skyscraper-like texture on the mid-palate, this broad, classic, savory Cornas should drink well for 25+ years. One of the most quality-conscious estates in the northern Rhône, Domaine Courbis produces a trio of vineyards called Cornas, as well as two cuvées of the impressive Saint-Joseph. After the brilliant success of their 2009 vintage, I thought it would be difficult for this domaine to match what they've achieved, but the 2010s are all stunning and the 2011s aren't far behind."
Best vintages Courbis Cornas Les Eygats : 2010, 2015, 2009, 2016, 2012
TOP 4: Domaine Thierry Allemand, Cornas "Reynard
2012 vintage tasting by Jeb Dunnuck, 98/100: "Sourced from the estate's oldest vines and one of the world's finest vineyards for Syrah, the 2012 Cornas Reynard is a massive, thick and unctuous effort that overflows with notions of crème de cassis, crushed violets, smoky game and incredible minerality. Just a sensational Cornas that surpasses what was accomplished in 2009 and 2010, this full-bodied, concentrated and structured effort has the fruit to be enjoyable now (that's a common trait of the vintage), but has the depth, richness and balance to evolve for more than two decades."
Best vintages Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard : 2012, 2009, 2010, 2008, 1990
TOP 5: Domaine Alain Voge, Cornas "Vieilles Vignes
A Cornas classic. This is Domaine Voge's oldest cuvée. It was created in the 70s. The vineyard is located in the heart of the Cornas appellation, on hillsides 200 meters above sea level. The vines are 60 years old and their roots are embedded in old granite abîme rocks (local name: "gores").
2010 tasting by Jeb Dunnuck, 98/100: "The 2010 Vieilles Vignes from Cornas are breathtaking. Colorful, incredibly concentrated ink, with sensational notes of bouquet garni, iron (blind I should have guessed Clape 2010), violets, crushed stone and good black and blue fruit surging from the glass. Full-bodied, layered and pure, with impressive freshness despite its massive size and concentration, this is a deep Cornas that needs 3-4 years of bottle age, but will last for three decades."
Best vintages Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Vignes : 2010, 2009, 2015, 2012, 2014
TOP 6: Domaine du Tunnel, Cornas "Pur Noir
Tasted 2015 by Joe Czerwinski, 97/100: "The 2015 Cornas Pur Noir rivals Clape's Cornas for the wine of the vintage in this appellation. Extraordinarily rich and complex, it offers notes of roasted red plums, roasted meat and mocha, enormous concentration and masses of ripe tannins. Yet, despite the power, it gives an impression of elegance, and the dark fruit flavors stand out on the long finish."
Best vintages Domaine du Tunnel Pur Noir: 2015, 2012, 2016, 2011, 2010
TOP 7: Ferraton Père & Fils, Cornas "Lieu-dit Patou
"The quality (and number of vintages) at this estate continues to soar, and this is without a doubt the finest range of wines I've tasted from this team." J.D.
2015 Tasting by Jeb Dunnuck, 95-97/100: "The 2015 Cornas Lieu Dit Patou sports a purple violet color matched by notions of liquid violet, blackberry, blueberry, toast and freshly crushed stone. Full-bodied, superbly concentrated, pure and impeccably balanced, this is a tour de force from this appellation."
Best vintages Ferraton Cornas Lieu-dit Patou : 2015, 2017, 2016, 2010 , 2012
TOP 8: Domaine Vincent Paris, Cornas "Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes
Tasting of the 2010 by R. Parker, 96+/100: "Perhaps the greatest Cornas I've tasted from Vincent Paris. Full-bodied and rich with striking intensity, it possesses gorgeous floral notes mingled with notions of rock powder, blue and black fruits and acacia flowers. Dense, full-bodied, multi-layered and multi-dimensional, this incredibly big Cornas needs 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for 25 years."
Best vintages Cornas Granite 60 Vieilles Vignes : 2010, 2016, 2012, 2011, 2015
TOP 9: Domaine Courbis, Cornas "Sabarotte
The brothers Laurent and Dominique Courbis, in the village of Châteaubourg, are a property that readers should keep in mind. The entire range is a treasure trove of quality wines.
2015 vintage tasting by Jeb Dunnuck, 95-97/100: "The deeply profound 2015 Cornas La Sabarotte comes from a terrific lieu-dit in the heart of the appellation and is aged entirely in new French oak barrels. Its deep purple/blue color is followed by incredible notes of black raspberries, blueberries, spring flowers, caramelized meats and licorice. Deep, full-bodied, utterly unadorned and profound on the palate, with soft, built-up tannin, this is a tour de force that will last two decades or more!"
Best vintages Courbis Cornas Sabarotte : 2015, 2010, 2009, 2012, 2011, 2016
TOP 10: Domaine Matthieu Barret, Cornas "Gore
Tasting of the 2012 by Jeb Dunnuck, 97/100: "Finally, and released only in magnum, the 2012 Cornas Gore is not at its best, and is one of the highest-rated Cornas in this report. A unique vineyard from the granitic soils known as gore. Its violet/inky-black color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of cassis, oxblood, rock powder and leather. Full-bodied, ripe, layered and silky, with fabulous integration, purity and length, it shows the supple, fruity style of the vintage, yet with sufficient concentration and depth. Give this beauty another 3-4 years and drink it through 2032."
*Only the 2012 vintage is noted.
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