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Cornas

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The area covered by this appellation is limited to the commune of Cornas in the Ardèche department on the right bank of the Rhône. Known since the Middle Ages, Cornas is a typical wine of the Rhône southern France. It gets its nickname of "black wine" from its very dark, almost black color.

Cornas, an AOC from the Valence hillsides

Indeed, this Rhône wine has enjoyed an uninterrupted reputation since the 10th century. Cornas has graced royal tables in France and abroad. In the 19th century Cornas wine already had the same reputation as Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Only phylloxera, followed by urbanization, came close to destroying this cru. AOC status and the revival of quality have enabled the vineyard to regain its momentum. Cornas wine was awarded a local AOC in 1938.

Located to the east of the city of Valence, the commune of Cornas benefits from a unique terroir combining the complexity of a semi-continental climate influenced by the Mediterranean and the richness of sandy-clay, granitic soils rich in iron oxide.

The soils of the Cornas vineyards are characterized by silty granite and gneiss deposits, with the vines planted on very steep granite terraces supported by low walls. Facing south/southeast, the vineyards benefit from plenty of sunshine. Its orientation gives this appellation an early ripening. It is the first red wine to be harvested in the northern Côtes du Rhône. Syrah is the only grape variety authorized in the entire appellation area.

The cultivated area of Cornas covers around 116 hectares, with annual production limited to some 4,200 hectolitres of wine. The grape variety used for Cornas wines is exclusively black Syrah, which gives the wine its rich aromatic palette, interesting tannin structure and deep color. Vinification begins with a long vatting period, followed by two years' ageing in wooden barrels.

The initial scents of wines from this Cornas appellation are of ripe red and black fruits such as redcurrant, blackberry and blueberry. Secondary scents are more distinctive, suggesting licorice, pepper or truffles. The Cornas red wine can be cellared for an average of four to fifteen years from vintage, and should be served and enjoyed at a temperature of between 18 and 19 degrees Celsius to fully reveal its aromatic palette. The vines of this region have given birth to grapes that have the art of marking the mouth with their aromatic notes.

Buying Cornas

Visit Cornas vineyard is home to a number of renowned houses offering complex wines, some vintages of which carry the colors of the Rhône vineyards high.

Alain Voge is the perfect example of a perfectly balanced wine. This family estate is one of the most renowned in the region, and buying Alain Voge wine is the assurance of discovering a wine that expresses the entire terroir of the Côte du Rhône vineyard. The Cornas 2013 vintage is an exceptional wine in which you'll find all the family's winemaking expertise. The same is true of Cornas from Maison Chapoutier, whose terroir-driven wines are the fruit of ancestral winemaking methods. The grapes are harvested by hand, and fermentation lasts ten days, followed by a three-week maceration. Cornas par Chapoutier is then aged in French oak barrels (80%) and concrete vats (20%). This method preserves the minerality of the beverage. Cornas Chapoutier is a wine of great tannin density and endless persistence on the palate. The purplish highlights give depth to this wine, which is ideal with marinated meat or a large piece of grilled game. Our range also includes Saint-Péray and Saint-Joseph,

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