2015 Cornas La Sabarotte
Buying options
Tasting notes
Deeper and richer than the Champelrose, the 2015 Cornas La Sabarotte comes from a great vineyard in the middle of the appellation and was raised in new barrels. Its huge nose of black raspberries, cassis, licorice, and violets give way to a full-bodied, incredibly seamless, gorgeously polished 2015 that's perfectly balanced, has sweet tannin, and a great, great finish. Give bottles a few years and enjoy over the following two decades. The Courbis brothers have hit a home run with these 2015s, the finest wines I’ve tasted from this brilliant estate. All three of the single vineyard Cornas are incredible wines, with the Les Eygats being one of finest Cornas ever made. The 2016s are also terrific wines that aren’t far behind the 2015s, and they’ll be approachable at an earlier age as well.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
John Livingstone-Learmonth, Drink Rhône
More reviews and scores
The utterly profound 2015 Cornas La Sabarotte comes from a terrific lieu-dit located in the heart of the appellation and is brought up all in new French oak. Its deep purple/blue color is followed by incredible notes of black raspberries, blueberries, spring flowers, caramelized meats and licorice. Deep, full-bodied, utterly seamless and profound on the palate, with building, sweet tannin, it's a tour de force that will have two decades or more of longevity!
Quite a bit of oak on the nose and front palate, which seems to disguise some of the intrinsic quality of the fruit. For two-thirds of the price their Les Eygats is the better buy, I think. Maybe let it age to let the oak subside? (RH)
Youthful purple. Black and blue fruit preserves, Indian spices and fruitcake on the deeply perfumed nose. Plush, broad and sweet on the palate, offering intense, impressively concentrated blackberry liqueur, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors underscored and sharpened by juicy acidity. Finishes on a smoky mineral note, delivering outstanding power and length and slow-building, harmonious tannins.