Cornas & St-Péray 2021
Cornas
(Image credit: © Inter Rhône)

Cornas

It was particularly dry in Cornas, with about 100mm of rain between April and harvest, according to Pierre Clape. It’s no surprise therefore that the ripening blockages are felt more keenly here than elsewhere in the north. ‘But the leaves stayed green, in contrast to 2003,’ says Clape.

M Chapoutier, Lieu-dit Hongrie, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

A full-bodied, generous, bold style of St-Péray, it has a strong character and an assertive nature. The oak here is quite marked, shaping the finish,...

2022

RhôneFrance

M ChapoutierSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Cave de Tain, Fleur de Roc, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

A discreet nose at the time of tasting, this will take a while to unfurl. There's a good sense of energy and freshness within, however,...

2022

RhôneFrance

Cave de TainSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Clape, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Quince and pear. Rich and ripe but not overly so, it's silky on the palate, fairly high in alcohol, enjoyably full and opulent, with a...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine ClapeSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine du Tunnel, Marsanne, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Rich and exotic, with ripe mango and pineapple. Explosively powerful flavour, rich in alcohol, very long, concentrated and opulent in style. I would drink this...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine du TunnelSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Guy Farge, Grain de Silex, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Lightly honeyed pear aromas lead to a full and flowing palate that’s satin textured. Has a feeling of freshness and purity, rolling on to a...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine Guy FargeSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Cave Julien Cécillon, Gemini, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Gorgeous, exciting nose combining struck flint and rich mango and apricot. Full-bodied, but not excessively so, with richly ripe stone fruit and well-integrated oak work...

2022

RhôneFrance

Cave Julien CécillonSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Cave de Tain, Epsilon Collection, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Good sense of depth and satisfying fullness. Real concentration, vinosity and balance, with a long finish. Leafy herbal notes further contribute to its drinkable, refreshing...

2022

RhôneFrance

Cave de TainSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Chaboud-Cellier, Boscus, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

A subtle, struck match reductive element brings interest to the nose. There's a keen, flinty edge on the palate, then good acidity, fresh melon and...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine Chaboud-CellierSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Eric & Joël Durand, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Fresh nose of scratched citrus. Plump but not overly full, this has good acidity and a nice sense of energy, focus and drive. Satsuma and...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine Eric & Joël DurandSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Johann Michel, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

A fuller, riper style than most, with melon, pear and apricot flavours. This is big, broad and full, with a silky mouthfeel. The alcohol is...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine Johann MichelSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Marc + Marlène, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Apples and pears on the nose, fresh, floral and fragrant. Well balanced, fresh again on the palate and ends neat. Very drinkable style, 70% aged...

2022

RhôneFrance

Marc + MarlèneSt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Vidal-Fleury, St-Péray, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Mandarin and lemon thyme, this has a lovely aromatic profile. Medium-bodied and delightfully fresh, with good acidity and a brisk feeling on the palate. Very...

2022

RhôneFrance

Vidal-FleurySt-Péray

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Franck Balthazar, Chaillot, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Aromatically quite reductive when tasted, but on the palate this is very promising, with surprisingly rounded and succulent tannins for a 2022. Long, direct, fresh...

2022

RhôneFrance

Franck BalthazarCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Clape, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

A tasting of various barrel samples suggests that the 2022 vintage here will be very good, if not necessarily the most powerful year. The fruit...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine ClapeCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Franck Balthazar, Hommage, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Spicy and flinty, a lovely smoky nature. Concentrated and intense, with amazing vibrancy and crunchy tannins. Good acidity, powerful and great impact, if not the...

2022

RhôneFrance

Franck BalthazarCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Franck Balthazar, Sans Soufre Ajouté, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

This has a gorgeous nose of soy, anchovy, eucalyptus and menthol. Silky, light in body, so incredibly fresh. Gorgeous acidity and so bright. Fine tannins,...

2022

RhôneFrance

Franck BalthazarCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Vincent Paris, La Geynale, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Has good weight of fruit, though no huge concentration like in other vintages. Ends on quite firm tannins, but they have a certain suppleness compared...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine Vincent ParisCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Vincent Paris, Granit 60, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Some welcome ripeness to the blackberry fruit here. Soft and juicy, with a velvety touch on the mid-palate. More generous alcohol than most, and balanced...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine Vincent ParisCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Franck Balthazar, Juliette, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Darkly fruited, this has an intense blackberry aroma and a touch of menthol. Tight tannins that are slightly fibrous on the finish, but this certainly...

2022

RhôneFrance

Franck BalthazarCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Mucyn, Hypsos, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Black olive, black pepper and menthol. Full-bodied, silky smooth, the oak work has helped to build a rounded and elegant wine with well-worked tannins. This...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine MucynCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Cave de Tain, Epsilon Collection, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Discreet nose offering up cinnamon and nutmeg spice. Weightier and fuller on the palate than the nose suggests, this has concentration, good depth of fruit...

2022

RhôneFrance

Cave de TainCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Domaine de Saint Pierre, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

The oak here is quite dominant, giving a smooth feel on the palate and polishing down the Cornas tannins. Good feeling of freshness, liquorice and...

2022

RhôneFrance

Paul Jaboulet AînéCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Cave de Tain, Arenès Sauvages, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Blueberry and black olive, with bay leaf nuances. Good weight of fruit, fairly concentrated for a 2022, with ripe tannins that still have a good...

2022

RhôneFrance

Cave de TainCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Delas Frères, Chante Perdrix, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Bay leaf, rosewood and cedar aromas, not terribly fruit driven. Silky on the palate, the tannins are relatively supple for a 2022. Acidity is well...

2022

RhôneFrance

Delas FrèresCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine A&E Verset, Signature, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Juicier and fruitier than many 2022s, with good weight and concentration of fruit. Acidity is quite noticeable, and it finishes firm and dry. Has a...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine A&E VersetCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Domaine Alain Voge, Les Vieilles Vignes, Cornas, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Bay leaf and olive aromas, both black and green. It has body and juice on the palate, but retains a herbal vein that runs through...

2022

RhôneFrance

Domaine Alain VogeCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Cave Julien Cécillon, Saint Pierre, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

A quite peculiar, distinctly perfumed nose, with potpourri, dried rose and blackcurrant. More body than most, though the acidity is quite low. Finishes on raspberry...

2022

RhôneFrance

Cave Julien CécillonCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Pierre Gaillard, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Roses, violets and potpourri, an unusually perfumed style. Smooth with surprisingly fine tannins, good acidity and an inner sweet ripeness to the fruit that's accentuated...

2022

RhôneFrance

Pierre GaillardCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now

Vidal-Fleury, Cornas, Rhône, France 2022

My wines
Locked score

Medium-weight style, this has more fruit and ripeness than many 2022s. Acidity is balanced, the oak is present but not excessive. No great concentration, but...

2022

RhôneFrance

Vidal-FleuryCornas

Decanter Premium logo

Join Decanter Premium to unlock all our wines tastings and notes

Join Now
Matt Walls
Decanter's Rhône coresspondent, and DWWA Regional Chair for the Rhône.

Matt Walls is an award-winning freelance wine writer and consultant, contributing regular articles to various print and online titles including Decanter, where he is a contributing editor. He has particular interest in the Rhône Valley; he is chair of the Rhône panel at the Decanter World Wine Awards and is the owner of travel and events company www.rhoneroots.com.