2005 Cornas Vieilles Vignes

The full-bodied 2005 Cornas Vieilles Vignes exhibits beautiful black fruit notes intermixed with notions of white flowers, earth, figs, and pepper. Layered, rich, and impressively endowed, it should be at its peak between 2011-2018. Consistently one of the top estates in Cornas, Alain Voge, who survived a liver transplant in 1998, is now partnered with the brilliant oenologist who worked for Michel Chapoutier, Alberic Mazoyer. In fact, Chapoutier is one of Voge’s investors. Alain Voge, who owns nearly 18 acres in Cornas, with some fabulous old vine parcels in Chaillot and Combe, also has 15 acres in St.-Peray, where he fashions one of that appellation’s finest dry whites, the Chablis look-alike called Fleur de Crussol. I was struck by how successful all of the following offerings were. Importer: New Castle Imports, Pawley’s Island, SC; tel. (843) 448-9463

Bright red. Vibrant red berry and candied cherry aromas are complicated by anise, dried violet and vanilla bean. Deep and sweet but focused, with fresh red fruit flavors, supple tannins and a slow-building mocha quality. Finishes with very good persistence and a lingering echo of raspberry. You could easily drink this now.

Dark red. Flamboyant red berry and spicy cherry aromas with a floral topnote. Deep and rich, with sweet, liqueur-like red fruit flavors and a suave, velvety texture. The tannins here are very nicely integrated. Finishes sweet and long, with a lingering black cherry note.