Tip from Rhone: What you need to know about Cornas

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People interested in wine are increasingly looking for quality wines that reveal their origins. Anyone with a soft spot for red wines made from the Syrah grape variety will enjoy the 168-hectare Cornas wine-growing region in the French Rhone Valley. Although Cornas is often overshadowed by Côte-Rôtie or Hermitage, characteristic Syrahs with a unique flavor profile are created here.

Syrah feels right at home in the warm Mediterranean climate of Cornas. The vineyards, which are mostly planted on steep slopes, benefit from intense sunlight as they face south and east. Of the 94 current grape producers, 19 are certified organic or biodynamic. Switzerland is Cornas’ fourth largest export market, after the USA, Great Britain and Belgium.

Horns are dense and durable

Syrah with Cornas likes to appear in a dark, dark guise, with pronounced meaty and spicy aromas and a full body. It usually needs to be aged in the bottle for several years so that the distinctive tannins can blend seamlessly into the wine. While not as potent as Hermitage, Cornas is generally just as concentrated and can mature in a few decades at best.

Of the 43 Cornas producers, the wineries of Auguste Clape, Alain Voge, Franck Balthazar, Vincent Paris and Du Tunnel represent the highest quality wineries. There are a number of other manufacturers waiting to be discovered. Full-bodied red wines are ideal for well-seasoned meat dishes or a delicious cheese plate.

Source : Blick