Domaine Verset A & E
Cornas Syrah
Cornas, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
Doing “research” for an upcoming trip. I was worried about the ‘21 vintage after seeing all of the photos of hundreds of burning smudge pots lighting up the night on the hill of Hermitage, but this is the second bottle (the first was a 21 Côte-Rotie on Christmas Day) that show it’s an excellent young drinking vintage for reasons I don’t fully grasp. An elegant, light-footed Cornas (do these words belong together?), a little lacking in midpalate stuffing and length but no worse for it. Opens up with time - garrigue, black olive notes, cedar chest, fresh black plum. Acid is fresh and bright but not harsh (not like the acid is on so many 21 Burgundies that sadly feel clipped and mean). Really damn pretty. The sort of wine that makes you truly sad when you get to the last sip.
Doing “research” for an upcoming trip. I was worried about the ‘21 vintage after seeing all of the photos of hundreds of burning smudge pots lighting up the night on the hill of Hermitage, but this is the second bottle (the first was a 21 Côte-Rotie on Christmas Day) that show it’s an excellent young drinking vintage for reasons I don’t fully grasp. An elegant, light-footed Cornas (do these words belong together?), a little lacking in midpalate stuffing and length but no worse for it. Opens up with time - garrigue, black olive notes, cedar chest, fresh black plum. Acid is fresh and bright but not harsh (not like the acid is on so many 21 Burgundies that sadly feel clipped and mean). Really damn pretty. The sort of wine that makes you truly sad when you get to the last sip.
Mar 16th, 2025