Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Fontaines 2020

Drink it now or cellar for up to 25 years. It is recommended to decant it for an hour. Alain Voge was a renowned winemaker and an historic figure in the northern Rhone Valley who, since the 1960s, has produced wines on the old family estate. The vines, cultivated according to organic and biodynamic standards since the 2000s, are located on the slopes of the right bank of the Rhone. The work in the vineyard is manual and in the cellar spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts is preferred, in full respect of the maximum expression of the terroir. Since 2018, the Domaine has been guided by Lionel Fraisse and Lionel Martin. Produced only in the best vintages, the Les Vieilles Fontaines cuvée is a Cornas of exceptional quality, first created in 1988. The grapes come from 80-year-old vines that are rooted in granite soil. After manual harvesting, spontaneous fermentation and a period of maceration in steel, the finished wine rests for 24 months in 228-liter barrels (15-20% of which are new). The wine reveals an intense aromatic bouquet with notes of cassis, blackberries and small dark berries, peppery and slightly smoky hints. On the palate it is powerful and round, dense and rich, with firm and well-integrated tannins and a lively and well-balanced acidic vein. The finish is long and persistent and recalls elegant notes of coffee and garrigue. Pair it with game or mature cheeses.

Price: £91.64 from 8wines UK