2010 Cornas Champelrose
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Tasting notes
100% Syrah. It benefits from three weeks of vatting to extract as much colour and flavour as possible. It is aged entirely in casks that are a mix of 25% new; 20% one year; and 55% two to three years. The barrel-aging period is 12 months, after which the wine is assembled in tank and aged for four more months before bottling. Low-key nose but solid. A determinedly dense north Rhône Syrah. Lacks grace but is not uncomfortably tannic. With food it would presumably perk up a bit. Not sure I'd pay this much for it though. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Inky ruby. Sexy, mineral-accented aromas of red fruit liqueur, violet and spicecake. Lithe and precise on the palate, offering vibrant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of licorice. Quite elegant for the vintage. Finishes tangy and long, with clarity, focus and silky tannins.
The 2010 Cornas Champelrose exhibits a black/purple color along with a floral note, and a terrific, full-bodied texture with gorgeous ripeness, purity and expansiveness. This savory, full-throttle, compelling Cornas will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and drink well for two decades or more. One of the most quality conscious estates in the Northern Rhone, Domaine Courbis produces a trio of vineyard designated Cornas as well as two cuvees of impressive St.-Joseph. After the brilliant success of their 2009 vintage, I thought it would be difficult for this estate to equal what they achieved, but the 2010s are all stunning, and the 2011s are not far behind. The Courbis family has nearly 48 acres in St.-Joseph and another 20 in Cornas, making them a relatively impressive family-owned estate. The Cornas vineyards are planted in decomposed granite soils with little top soil. The Cornas Les Eygats emerges from what the Courbis brothers feel is their greatest micro-climate, from a terraced vineyard composed of broken granite, planted at an altitude of 250 meters. Importer: Russell Herman, Berkeley Heights, NJ; tel. (908) 771-9082
Dark purple. Dark berries and spices on the highly perfumed nose. Spicy and focused on entry, then rich and broad in the middle, offering sweet black and blue fruit flavors and a seamless texture. Finishes smooth and appealingly sweet, with very good focus and lingering spiciness.