2016 Domaine Alain Voge 'Les Vieilles Vignes' Cornas

Winemaker Notes: It was an early, sun-kissed vintage. Sufficient rain in August alleviated the intense heat and drought conditions of the month of July. Yields were good. The wines are rich and powerful, but lively thanks to a touch of acidity in the reds, the distinctive feature of a magnificent vintage.

Game in general, and especially hare, is the kind of meat that pairs ideally with the Cornas wine made by Mr Voge. He suggests this version of Hare à la Royale: the saddle stuffed with foie gras and a stewed preparation thickened with blood and the rest of the animal. After a few years of ageing, Cornas Vieilles Vignes is a great match for this dish with its hints of leather, pepper and distinct, delicate tannins.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Decanter - "From lieux-dits Mazard and La Côte, 80% destemmed. Sun-warmed herbs accompany sand, lavender and raspberry on the nose. It has good aromatic freshness and definition, and the full-bodied palate is also clean, super-fresh and lively. It's dense and ripe, defined by serrated tannins, keen acidity and a mouth-coating character. This is full of character, a very classic expression of Cornas that's not massive, but is detailed, clear and sinewy with mineral hints. Seriously good this year."


Wine Enthusiast - "Skeins of graphite and smoke provide an alluring introduction to this seductively fruity, concentrated Syrah. Blackberry and mulberry flavors are vibrant yet concentrated, spiced with black pepper, leather and olive, edged by fine, supple tannins. Irresistible already, the wine will improve through 2040. Citadel Trading."


Jeb Dunnuck - "The 2016 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes is similar in style to the Vieilles Fontaines, just slightly less concentrated. It comes from the Combe, Patou, La Côte, Les Mazards and Chaillot lieux-dits and is partially destemmed and brought up mostly in neutral barrels. Lifted notes of black and blue fruits, damp earth, spring flowers, and violets all emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated yet elegant red that stays balanced on the palate, with good acidity. It's another powerful, seriously endowed, pedal-to-the-metal Cornas that will have two decades of longevity."


Wine Spectator - "This offers a mix of red and black cherry paste flavors, infused with a range of bay leaf, savory, tobacco, olive and chalk notes. Shows a grippy feel through the finish, with the chalky minerality driving through. Best from 2022 through 2038."


James Suckling - "Impressive depth and detail with swirling, fragrant complexity of ripe blackberries and plenty of dark minerals. The oak is dialed-up, but the old-vine fruit is up to it. Concentrated, dense tannins, long, dark-fruit flavors and a bright future. From organically grown grapes. Try in 2022."


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "In almost every vintage, it's worth the price difference to step up to Voge's Vieilles Vignes bottling. Certainly, the 2016 Cornas Vieilles Vignes is another huge success, with hints of cracked pepper and briars accenting red plums and then picking up licorice on the long, softly dusty finish. Full-bodied, concentrated and supple, it's approachable now yet looks sure to evolve gracefully for at least a decade."