Domaine de la Cendrillon - Corbières N°1 2016

Robert Joyeux balanced his career as an industrialist with the extensive renovation of the property, enabling him to create the Corbières of his dreams—an elegant wine that expresses the complexity and variety of its terroirs. Since 2011, he and his wife Geneviève have devoted themselves full-time to their estate, and their son Hubert has just joined them there to promote this fine wine around the world. The estate has been certified organic since 2013; the grapes are tended to perfection, and gentle extraction, the absence of any crushing, and gravity-fed processing result in wines that are generous yet refined and authentic. The “Inédite” cuvée displays depth and structure, while the “Numéro 1” cuvée—exuberant and full of character—lives up to its name. We were also charmed by the new “La Coume” cuvée, which is lively and fresh. The whites and rosés are delicious.

Opulent aromas of coconut, raisins, licorice, and dark fruits; on the palate, notes of juniper, blackcurrant, cherry, cinnamon, clove, elegant chocolate, and smooth, soft tannins.

A top-tier vintage whose very long barrel aging (24 months) has not diminished its aromas—quite the contrary. The nose is very elegant, revealing notes of blackberry, raspberry, and peony against a subtly oaky backdrop. The same elegance characterizes the palate, which captivates with its full-bodied texture, refined tannins, and fruit that has beautifully integrated with the oak. Powerful, harmonious, and with excellent aging potential.

La Cendrillon? A hamlet in Ornaisons, at the foot of the Fontfroide massif, an old inn along the Roman road that connected the Narbonnaise region to Aquitaine. A native of the region, entrepreneur Robert Joyeux took over the family estate in 1993 and spared no expense on investments: new plantings and the construction of a wine cellar. Today, 42 hectares have been certified organic since late 2012.