Cornas to drink now: Matt Walls’ top 20
Chunky, spicy, deep, earthy, brooding, sulky, glorious. One of the great joys of Cornas is that you never know quite what you’re going to get. But if you time it right, Cornas can really hit the mark, says Matt Walls.
Notoriously rugged, the only thing that can truly tame a Cornas is time. The question I’m often asked by thirsty Rhône collectors is this – how much longer must I wait?
In fact, there are two main windows in which to open a bottle. The first is when the wine is young, a year or two after bottling, when it’s still surging with fruit and spice. Young Cornas can roar with tannin, but if you like savoury Syrahs with impact and intensity, it can be a thrilling ride. Particularly if paired with similarly sizzling food.
Scroll down for Matt Walls’ top 20 Cornas to drink now
Now or later?
Matt Walls’ top 20 Cornas to drink now
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Domaine Clape, Cornas, Rhône, France 2006
Wonderful nose now, a perfect state of readiness, notes of mushroom and old leather with some memories of berry fruits underneath. Medium-bodied, with great freshness...
2006
Domaine ClapeCornas
Domaine Vincent Paris, La Geynale, Cornas, Rhône, France, 2012
Very easy to drink and like, a wine with lovely freshness and good fruit still – raspberry and blackberry inlaid with menthol and some spicy...
2012
Domaine Vincent ParisCornas
Guillaume Gilles, Cornas, Rhône 2014
Guillaume's favourite recent vintage, along with 2019. A cauldron of fresh herbs and spices: thyme, oregano, black pepper and dried orange peel. Only medium-bodied, with...
2014
Guillaume GillesCornas
Philippe Pacalet, Cornas, Rhône 2018
Black olive and anchovy tapenade along with a fine smokiness, a beautifully scented wine. Medium-bodied but has great intensity and focus. Raspberry and rosemary on...
2018
Philippe PacaletCornas
Dumien-Serrette, Patou, Cornas, Rhône 2013
Nicolas is the fourth generation to farm their 1.5ha of Cornas. Beginning to enter its mature phase now, with new leather, liquorice and herbal bitters...
2013
Dumien-SerretteCornas
Domaine Courbis, Les Eygats, Cornas, Rhône 2018
All destemmed, matured in new or one-year-old barrels. Plentiful oak spice to the very ripe berry coulis aromas, a smoky paprika hint lends further interest....
2018
Domaine CourbisCornas
Alain Verset, Cornas, Rhône 2017
Emmanuelle took over from her father Alain in 2016. No destemming, aged in used barriques and demi-muids. Still expressive at the time of writing, with...
2017
Alain VersetCornas
Matthieu Barret, Billes Noires, Cornas, Rhône 2016
Smoky blackcurrant and black cherry, fresh and defined, with eucalyptus and rosemary in the background. Light-bodied for a Cornas, with good acidity and a fresh...
2016
Matthieu BarretCornas
M Chapoutier, Temenos, Cornas, Rhône 2016
Very smoky, spicy style, struck flint and oak spice lending a piquancy to the raspberries underneath. Fuller than many 2016s, with good acidity lending an...
2016
M ChapoutierCornas
Domaine Alain Voge, Les Chaillés, Cornas, Rhône 2019
Attractive high-toned spicy note really draws you in, partly from the oak, but also the place. Raspberries and loganberries spiked with Szechuan pepper. Voluminous but...
2019
Domaine Alain VogeCornas
Aurélien Chatagnier, Cornas, Rhône 2019
Aurélien started his estate in 2002 after working at Domaine Jamet. Intense damson and blackberry shot through with well-integrated oak spice. There's a blackcurrant leaf...
2019
Aurélien ChatagnierCornas
Domaine Michelas St.Jemms, Les Murettes, Cornas, Rhône 2017
A savoury, woody (rather than oaky) aromatic profile now, with a touch of polish from the oak. Touch of menthol, very generous and mouthfilling. Tannins...
2017
Domaine Michelas St JemmsCornas
Domaine Durand, Confidence, Cornas, Rhône 2017
Black cherry aromas as if baked in a clafoutis - there's a touch of baking spice from the 30% new oak. Very full, generous and...
2017
Domaine DurandCornas
François Villard, Jouvet, Cornas, Rhône 2019
A full, dense and savoury Cornas but nonetheless shows a certain approachability. Dark in the glass, with aromas of smoked sausage and herbs. Very full-bodied...
2019
François VillardCornas
Domaine Mucyn, Hypsos, Cornas, Rhône 2019
A relatively new estate established in 2001 by Hélène and Jean-Pierre Mucyn after they changed careers. More approachable than most 2019s, with charcuterie and smoky...
2019
Domaine MucynCornas
Ferraton Père & Fils, Les Grands Mûriers, Cornas, Rhône 2018
Savoury, herbal elements to the aromatic profile and some just-ripe blackcurrant fruit underneath. Has good weight on the palate, it's powerful, with good acidity. There's...
2018
Ferraton Père & FilsCornas
Domaine Lionnet, Terres Brulées, Cornas, Rhône 2015
A traditional approach at this 4ha estate, no destemming or new oak. Very dark in the glass still, with blackberries, liquorice and burnt herbs swirling...
2015
Domaine LionnetCornas
Tardieu-Laurent, Vieilles Vignes, Cornas, Rhône 2016
A blend of two lieux-dits, Les Eygats et Patou. Showing some smoky reduction still, and a little black pepper on the nose. More generous and...
2016
Tardieu-LaurentCornas
Domaine Jacques Leménicier, Cornas, Rhône 2019
Jacques worked with Alain Voge before establishing his own estate in Cornas and Saint-Péray. Full-bodied, very generous, with plenty of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, liquorice...
2019
Domaine Jacques LeménicierCornas
Pierre Gaillard, Cornas, Rhône 2019
From an east-facing parcel of 70-year-old vines, all destemmed and aged in barriques, 50% new. A very ripe style, with dried fig and dark chocolate,...
2019
Pierre GaillardCornas
