2011 Cornas
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Tasting notes
Served blind. Deep purplish crimson. Definitely tastes like a young northern Rhône Syrah, drier than the 2011 Chave Hermitage served alongside. Over time the acidity started to slightly dominate the impressive youthful fruit. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2011 Cornas is drinking beautifully right now, 10 years after the vintage. Nicely developed notes of leather and faint herbal flourishes accent redcurrants on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is plush and velvety, capped off by a long, elegant finish.
The 2011 Clape Cornas shows much darker character than its 2012 sibling, offering powerful cassis, black currant and licorice flavors that unfurl very slowly with air. At almost a decade old, this is still on the youthful side, with round but present tannins adding framework and closing grip. Right now, I slightly prefer the elegance of the 2012.
Complex wine, from a fruit-driven vintage, this has always been quite open and approachable. The palate has a firmish tannin frame with red fruit at the core. Plush. Some earthy and woody savoriness coming through. Drink or hold.