2017 Cornas Les Eygats
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Tasting notes
In contrast to the Champelrose, which seemed to be closing down slightly, the 2017 Cornas les Eygats was in fine form at the domaine last July. Crushed stone notes and hints of resinous herbs accent red currants and cassis in a wine that's full-bodied and velvety. It's aged in 50% new oak, yet that's barely perceptible, except perhaps in the wine's richer, plusher texture.
Critic scores
Average Score
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Cornas Les Eygats offers a more granite-driven bouquet of bloody blue fruits, liquid rocks, violets, game, and smoked meat. With full-bodied richness, integrated acidity, plenty of tannins, and more than enough fruit and pure opulence on the palate, this beauty needs 4-5 years of bottle age but is a singular, brilliant wine in every sense. This cuvée was destemmed and brought up in 50% new barrels. The Courbis brothers continue to keep this estate near the top of the hierarchy in the Northern Rhône, and they’ve made brilliant wines in 2017 and 2018. In general, the style here is quasi-modern and the wines are mostly destemmed and brought up in varying amounts of new French oak. Some of the top single vineyards are brought up in 100% new barrels. Nevertheless, these wines never lose their sense of place and are pure, beautiful expressions of the individual parcels.
Dark purple. Heady, smoke-accented black/blue fruits, licorice, vanilla, peony and olive paste on the intensely perfumed nose. Pliant, sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering appealingly sweet blackberry, cassis and floral pastille flavors that are energized by a core of juicy acidity. Shows excellent depth as well as liveliness and finishes impressively long and spicy, with fine-grained tannins that build steadily and add shape and firming grip. (50% new oak)
Cask sample. Tasted blind. Dense black-cherry fruit, lightly furry tannin, a touch of leather and clove giving complexity. Very fine structure, with appetisingly fresh acidic finish. The dumb nose should open up once bottled. (RH)