Cornas

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.

2023 VINTAGE

After the frost of 2021 and the drought of 2022, it was reasonable to hope for a season without incident for the vines.
This vintage, although very different from the previous two, was once again a vintage of challenges, perseverance, and humility.
While 2022 was marked by a lack of water, the 2023 vintage was characterized by very heavy thunderstorms and, in some areas, hail, particularly in the high-altitude vineyards of St Pierre, reducing the harvest but above all leaving the foliage damaged and greatly diminished, impacting the peaceful ripening of the grapes.
Despite the complexity of this season, at the end of July, the historic plots of old vines looked very promising, as they were little affected by hail, healthy and ultimately well watered by the storms.
However, this was without counting on the sudden heatwave in August, which, in just a few days, caused much of the foliage and grapes to dry out, reduced acidity to very low levels, and blocked photosynthesis and therefore the migration of sugars.
Eager to bring the season to a close, we began harvesting at the end of August and finished at the end of September. The grapes were sorted with particular care this year; fermentation, which is carried out by fungi, is proceeding under favorable conditions.
A few months later, tasting the wines reassures us.
Despite exceptionally low acidity levels, both the whites and the reds are up to par: the fruit is present, the wines are balanced, and the tannins are ripe. The exceptional quality of the terroirs on the one hand, and the rigorous and persistent work on the other, have given rise to this astonishing vintage! To be continued...

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 10% new barrels.
• Amount of sulphite reduced: 66 mg/l total SO₂ (100 mg/litre authorised in organic winemaking).
• Production : 13.276 bottles / 412 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 2^e

… COMMENTS

2022 Vintage: "The tiny production 2022 Cornas Les Vieilles Fontaines comes from the site of the estate’s oldest Syrah vines, an 80-year-old vineyard planted in granite soil. It's a sensational looking barrel sample that's going to rank with the top handful of wines in the appellation. Cassis, blueberries, spring flowers, game, and liquid violet notes are just some of its nuances, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, broad mouthfeel, and ripe yet certainly present tannins. It's going to need 3-5 years of cellaring but will evolve for two decades."

 Jeb Dunnuck, 28/08/2024: 95-97/100