We have chosen to use the word investment, not to advise you to buy this or that bottle in order to make a capital gain in a few years' time, but rather to invest in certain estates or appellations that will be more difficult to access financially in a few years' time.
AN APPELLATION WITH CHARACTER!
Produced on the right bank of the Rhône, Cornas wines are part of the Northern Rhône Valley. The wines are produced here, and only here. The vineyards are located in the Ardèche department, with the Saint Joseph appellation to the north, the Saint-Péray wines to the south, and the city of Valence across the Rhône.
A RICH TERROIR
Although the first written record of the vineyard dates back to 1763, the vineyard was shaped by the Romans, with the appearance of terraces and low walls. The vineyard is very small, just 150 hectares, and is planted mainly with Syrah on steep, east-south-east facing slopes. A few white grape varieties are also present, but cannot be included in the Cornas AOC. They will therefore be labelled as Vin de Pays de l'Ardèche. Terraced sandy soils with limestone scree make up a rich terroir that benefits from a temperate climate with a strong Mediterranean influence, resulting in warm summers and plenty of sunshine. There are several top-quality lieux-dits on this terroir, such as Le Coulet, Chaillot and La Geynale, which stands out from the rest.
A STYLE OF WINE
Visit Syrah grape variety combined with the Cornas terroir and warm climate, produce very powerful wines. The wines are dark, very deep red. Often high in alcohol and heady, they have great ageing potential. Busy when young, the wines are tannic and robust, but will offer a superb aromatic palette after a few years in bottle. Notes of spice, tobacco and leather complement the black fruits. They are therefore wines to match with powerful dishes, red meats and fine game. The town of Cornas has around 80 winegrowers, and there are of course many more excellent winegrowers than the three we have selected.
EXAMPLES OF CORNAS ESTATES TO INVEST IN
An emblematic estate, Auguste Clape wines are surely the most sought-after in the appellation!
It all began in the 1950s, when Auguste Clape decided to devote himself to wine, on a property that belonged to his wife's parents and was intended for mixed farming. And so they set off with 4 hectares of vines... In 1988, their son joined them in the adventure, bringing with him a wealth of experience, having earned his spurs at such great estates as the Tempier estate in Bandol or Châteauneuf-du-Pape at the estate Old Telegraph. Sadly, Auguste Clape passed away in 2018, leaving his son Pierre and grandson Olivier to run the estate. The estate's wines are powerful, rich and have great ageing potential.
When you buy a bottle of Alain Vosge, you're buying a story, a bottle full of respect, a part of the soul of Cornas...
Alain Voge joined Henri Voge in 1961 to work with him on the family farm, but had to face the untimely death of his father in 1965 and took over the reins of the farm and vineyards to help his mother. It wasn't until 1980 thatAlain Voge gave up his career as a nurseryman and distiller to devote himself exclusively to wines. A fervent advocate ofCornas appellationAt the time, he was fighting to avoid a revision of the appellation. Since 2000, he has been supported by Albéric Mazoyer, who has helped him to convert his vineyard to organic farming. Some of the estate's vines are planted on granite soils. This adds finesse to the wine, making it easier to enjoy when young, but without preventing it from ageing well.
A real favorite for a relatively recent estate, but one that surely holds the finest parcel of vines in Cornas.
Vincent Paris created his one-hectare estate in 1997 after 4 years' study in oenological viticulture. He planted vines a little further north in Saint-Joseph as well as in Cornas.
Vincent Paris was already well known in the Cornas appellation, but in 2007 he took things a step further by teaming up with a landholding group to acquire the "La Geynales" parcel, located in the Reynard neighborhood and facing due south, which is considered to be the best parcel in the appellation. When it comes to the vines, Vincent Paris adopts a "reasoned agriculture" approach, using no pesticides or chemical fertilizers and treating his vines as little as possible. In the winery, the grapes are partially destemmed and the wine is aged in barrels for 2 to 8 years. The estate produces several cuvées, depending on their exposure and the quality of their plots. It may be worth tasting them before embarking on the "La Geynales" cuvée.
Other prestigious estates in the Cornas appellation :
Discover other great AOC Cornas estates. Interesting vintages to discover without further delay. Of course, you'll need to look out for the best vintages from these estates, and keep abreast of the various notes from leading tasters if you want to get the most out of your bottles. But either way, it's sure to make for some great tastings! Here's a first list:
![✨ Comptoir des Millésimes honors Champagne's great winemakers ✨[LINK TO THE ORGANIC CELLAR]We've selected 11 exceptional estates that reveal the full richness of Champagne terroir through unique, refined cuvées. Hugues Godmé - In Verzenay, this family-run biodynamic estate offers precise, vibrant champagnes with a beautiful mineral tension.Egly-Ouriet - A benchmark for the Montagne de Reims, its powerful champagnes, aged for long periods in barrel, impress with their complexity.Moussé Fils - In Cuisles, the Meunier grape is king. Pertois-Moriset - Pure, taut Chardonnay Grands Crus for lovers of chalky finesse. A fine address in Mesnil-sur-Oger.Geoffroy - In Aÿ, this domaine produces fine champagnes, carefully crafted and barrel-aged to reveal the full complexity of the terroir.Larmandier-Bernier - Biodynamic viticulture, exceptional parcels and purity. Crystal-clear, intense champagnes for connoisseurs.Roger Coulon - Eight generations of expertise at Vrigny. Balanced, subtle and elegant champagnes.A. Bergère - In Avize, a dynamic house offering expressive, fruity and accessible cuvées.Adrien Renoir - A promising talent from Verzy, he produces fine, complex champagnes with a true sense of terroir.De Sousa - Emblematic house in Avize. Richness, depth, long ageing: Chardonnay at its peak.Pierre Paillard - In Bouzy, the family magnifies Pinot Noir with vinous, racy and sincere cuvées.📦 Order now on our website#ComptoirdesMillésimes #Champagne #VigneronsIndépendants #GrandVin #ChampagnesdeTerroir #LivraisonRapide](https://www.comptoirdesmillesimes.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed/img/placeholder.png)