Stacked onto the hills of the western bank of the Rhone River, the vines of Cornas enjoy maximum sun exposure, facing south by southeast. The slopes are composed of both limestone and granite, though Thierry's parcels lie predominately upon sturdy, granite subsoil with some clay. The sun exposure of his vineyards are of particular note, as they are inclined to early ripeness. Thierry vinifies each parcel individually, bringing prestige and recognition back to even the smallest lieux-dits of Cornas. His commitment to minimal doses of sulfur dioxide puts him in the same school of thought as such renowned traditionalists as Marcel Lapierre (Beaujolais), Domaine Gramenon (Southern Rhone), and Domaine Leon Barral (Languedoc). The cult status that Thierry's wines have achieved is well-earned praise for this quiet hero of Cornas.
Boxer Briefs
Out of magnum, he says this is the best bottle of wine he ever produced. Story goes that in a terrible vintage he did everything he could to produce a minimal amount of wine and it turned out to be about a ton or a ton and a half. Incredibly concentrated, no signs of under ripeness, this wine was a monster, a baby that kept evolving in the glass, it was actually too big for me and the medicine I’m taking. Instant headache just from tasting and spitting. Crazy powerful. Reminiscent of Australia without the herbs. Power with finesse.
Out of magnum, he says this is the best bottle of wine he ever produced. Story goes that in a terrible vintage he did everything he could to produce a minimal amount of wine and it turned out to be about a ton or a ton and a half. Incredibly concentrated, no signs of under ripeness, this wine was a monster, a baby that kept evolving in the glass, it was actually too big for me and the medicine I’m taking. Instant headache just from tasting and spitting. Crazy powerful. Reminiscent of Australia without the herbs. Power with finesse.
10Marc Stubblefield
Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant
This is still so tight and wrapped up, yet already compelling in the glass. All the things- dark blue fruit, leather, meat, smoke, rocks, flowers. A great wine now, I can only imagine this in another few years.
This is still so tight and wrapped up, yet already compelling in the glass. All the things- dark blue fruit, leather, meat, smoke, rocks, flowers. A great wine now, I can only imagine this in another few years.
9.6Thomas Pastuszak
Sommelier/Wine Director The NoMad
2008: from magnum, so much freshness, and great fruit & mineral weight, a favorite vintage
2008: from magnum, so much freshness, and great fruit & mineral weight, a favorite vintage
9.6Julia Weinberg
Star of hrr14 syrah night, thank you raj v!
Star of hrr14 syrah night, thank you raj v!
9.5Julia Weinberg
Bloody lamb, cured olives, hatcho miso. And just goddamn delicious.
Bloody lamb, cured olives, hatcho miso. And just goddamn delicious.
9.9Nathaniel DiMaggio
A little brett up front that blew off but a wonderful wine.
A little brett up front that blew off but a wonderful wine.
9.0Bradley Brown
Owner/Winemaker Big Basin Vineyards
Intense and still really tight.
Intense and still really tight.
9.3Anthony Cailan
Fucking stunning
Fucking stunning
9.8Alder Yarrow
Wine Blogger Vinography
So damn good. Cassis and white pepper crushed stone and violets. Incredible crushed herbs float above the stony finish .
So damn good. Cassis and white pepper crushed stone and violets. Incredible crushed herbs float above the stony finish .
9.5Location
WARNING: DRINKING DISTILLED SPIRITS, BEER, COOLERS, WINE AND OTHER ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES MAY INCREASE CANCER RISK, AND, DURING PREGNANCY, CAN CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS.