Cornas
Controlled appellation
Les Vieilles Vignes
This is our classic wine. The oldest of the Domain’s wines, it was created during the 1970s to highlight the long-standing family vineyard. Vines for this wine are located in the heart of the appellation, facing those we first replanted. Les Vieilles Vignes is a wine that reflects our history and our winemaking know-how.
The entire domain is cultivated using organic and biodynamic viticulture.
TERROIR
Situated on slopes at an altitude of approximately 200 metres, facing South-South-East, the vines of our classic wine are on average 60 years old. Their roots delve deep down into old, worn granite rock, called gores locally.
2019 VINTAGE
For the third year in a row, it was a hot and dry season, but less early than the two before. The hydric deficit and heats that blocked the maturities on some sensitive plots, have been compensated by two beautiful rains at the end of the season. Light powdery mildew pressure on all the vineyard. It should be noted that the historical terroir of Saint-Péray (old Marsanne vines on clay- limestone soils) shows excellent capabilities in heatwave conditions. The quality of harvest was very good at the end, normal quantities, and very beautiful juices after the winemaking.
OUR VINE GROWING AND WINEMAKING
• Organic certification for the vines and wine from the 2016 vintage and biodynamic methods used.
• Syrah vines trained and pruned in the Gobelet style and supported by stakes.
• Hand-picked harvests.
• Partial destemming with 20 % whole grapes.
• Fermentation with natural yeasts and maceration for several weeks in stainless steel vats, with cap-punching and pumping-over done twice a day.
• Maturation in 228-litre barrels for 20 months, with 15% new barrels.
• Amount of sulphite reduced: 47 mg/l total SO2 (100 mg/litre authorised in organic winemaking).
• Production : 14.395 bottles / 405 magnums.
• Ageing potential: 20 years.
THE ATMOSPHERE…
The dish :
Hare à la Royale
“Game in general, and especially hare, is the kind of meat that pairs ideally with the Cornas wine made by Mr Voge.
I suggest this version of Hare à la Royale: the saddle stuffed with foie gras and a stewed preparation thickened with blood and the rest of the animal.
After a few years of ageing, Cornas Vieilles Vignes is a great match for this dish with its hints of leather, pepper and distinct, delicate tannins.”
The chef :
Thomas Ponson, at the “Thomas” restaurant, Lyon 2e
… COMMENTS
2019 Vintage:
"The 2019 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes is similarly inky colored and has a classic nose of plums, Asian spices,sandalwood, and iron. Medium to full-bodied, with good acidity and ripe tannins, it doesn't have the sheer weight, richness, or girth of the Vieilles Fontaines, yet it's certainly a more classic Cornas that will be approachable with just 3-4 years of bottle age yet evolve for twenty years if you're so inclined."
Jeb Dunnuck, 16/02/2022: 97/100