2015 Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Confidence
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Tasting notes
Deep ruby. Ripe black and blue fruits, vanilla, candied licorice and a smoky nuance on the deeply perfumed nose. Lush and broad in the mouth, offering sweet blackberry and cassis flavors and a strong jolt of cracked pepper. Pliant tannins add shape to the persistent finish, which emphatically echoes the vanilla and blue fruit notes.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jeb Dunnuck
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Brought up in 30% new French oak, the 2015 Cornas Confidence is the gem in the lineup, offering a ripe, hedonistic, downright opulent style. The tannins that were so present from barrel have been integrated beautifully. Blackberry liqueur, toasted spices, new saddle leather and dried herbs all emerge from this beautifully ripe, sexy 2015, which has loads of sweet fruit, ripe tannin and a great finish. I'd happily drink a bottle today, yet it should be at its best from 2020-2035. One of my favorite Cornas estate is that of brothers Eric and Joël Durand, who took over the running of this family estate in 1991. The winemaking is a mix of modern and traditional, with some destemming when needed, fermentations occurring in tank and concrete, and aging mostly in used barrels, with just a tiny amount being new. Their 2015s are certainly on par with what was produced in 2009 and 2010, and these are terrific, character filled wines I’d be happy to have in my cellar.
The top cuvee here is the 2015 Cornas Confidence, which is aged in a high proportion of new oak barriques. It shows more toast and vanilla than the other cuvées, plus hints of pencil shavings that outline cassis and plum fruit. This full-bodied wine is rich and concentrated, with a plush mouthfeel that’s unusual in Cornas, and a long, velvety finish. Give it a few years to absorb its oak, and drink it over the next decade or so.