There is a touch of coconut oak still on the nose, but it should sink into the wine eventually. Plentiful damson fruit, dried thyme and dried blood notes as well. Medium- to full-bodied, it has intensity and good acidity, the tannins are fairly restrained but it has some pixelated Cornas texture. Remarkably approachable now, but I would wait for the oak to subside a little more. Suave and likeable but serious, too, as it has concentration and salinity. 60-year-old vines in lieux-dits Combe, Patou, La Côte, Les Mazards and Chaillot. 20% whole bunch, 20% new oak. Organic.
95 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com
Straight-up classic Cornas from a mix of terroirs and older vines, the 2022 Cornas Vieilles Vignes has rocking cassis, violets, pepper, and exotic floral and incense-like aromatics. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated Cornas with the ripe, expressive, perfumed style of the vintage as well as the firmer, focused tannins that will benefit from bottle age. Do your best to give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following decade. Drink 2029-2039.
