Cornas Domaine de Saint-Pierre 2020

Paul Jaboulet Aîné

Cornas Domaine de Saint-Pierre
2020

  • Organic
  • Biodynamic
  • Vegan
Country
France
Regulated designation
Appellation origine controlée (AOC)
Region
Rhône Valley
Subregion
Northern Rhone
Appellation
Cornas
Varietal(s)
Syrah
Colour
Red
Sugar
Dry
Producer's website

About this winery

See the Paul Jaboulet Aîné detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

Massif Central in the town of Cornas. The steep slopes, facing due south, form a natural amphitheater which protects from cold winds. In Celtic, Cornas means Scorched Earth. Owned by Domaines Paul Jaboulet Aîné since 1996, the St-Pierre estate covers 3.9 hectares (granite, limestone and silt), near the Chapel.

Production notes

Manual harvest on vines from 10 to 60 years old with sorting on the plot, in small crates. Vatting for about 4 weeks, with gentle extractions. Aging in French oak barrels, 20% of which is new wood.

Tasting notes

Dark purple hue, this Cornas delivers wild notes of game, black olives, aromatic herbs, plums and violets as well as an obvious mineral side. Concentrated, rich, superbly balanced with surprising elegance. Pairings with game, lamb shank and pepper flank.

Press reviews

James Suckling

- 95 points -

James Suckling, June 2021 (Vintage 2019)

Plenty of cracked-pepper and dark-berry aromas with some dried flowers as well. Then fresh flowers and dried citrus. Full and flavorful with a beautiful center palate of blackberries and cloves. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

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James Suckling

- 94 points -

James Suckling, December 2020 (Vintage 2018)

Such beautiful blueberry undertones to the blackberry and wet-earth aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with round, firm tannins that make this wine serious and polished at the same time. Very deep and focused with a very long, flavorful finish. Such balance and depth already. Very drinkable now, but better after 2022.

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Vinous

- 93 points -

Josh Raynolds, April 2020 (Vintage 2018)

Opaque ruby. Smoke-accented black raspberry, cherry and violet qualities on the nose, along with a spicy nuance that builds in the glass. Shows very good depth as well as vivacity in the mouth, offering sweet dark berry, cherry and candied violet flavors that spread out steadily on the back half. Closes energetic and long, with repeating spice and floral qualities and gentle tannic grip. This high-altitude, windy and cool site has been performing impressively in the recent hot vintages.

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Wine Advocate

- 92 points -

Joe Czerwinski, May 2021 (Vintage 2018)

Peppery, meaty and blueberry aromas emerge on the nose of the 2018 Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre. Never one of the house's biggest or burliest bottlings, it's medium to full-bodied, with a silky feel on the palate and ample length on the finish. The vineyard is on a gentle slope near the very top of the appellation.

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James Suckling

93-94

James Suckling, April 2022 (Vintage 2020)

Rippling with blackberry aromas, but also notes of pomegranate and hibiscus, plus a slew of spice, this is a bold and powerful Cornas with quite a dense tannin structure. However, there’s nothing aggressive about it, which suggests you will have to wait years to enjoy the succulent side of this wine. From 3.9 hectares of 10 to 60-year-old syrah vines. From biodynamically grown grapes

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Wine Advocate

91-93

Joe Czerwinski, January 2022 (Vintage 2020)

Situated near the top of the Cornas appellation, the 2020 Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre features enticing scents of crushed stone and ripe blueberries. Medium to full-bodied, it comes across as richer and more concentrated than Jaboulet's domaine wines from Crozes this year yet still reasonably suave and approachable

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Wine Advocate

92-94 Pts

Joe Czerwinski, May 2021 (Vintage 2019)

Planted at 400 meters above sea level and near the top of the hill, this is always one of the last parcels to be harvested in any given vintage. The 2019 Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre has a bit of lifted, minty character on the nose alongside ripe blueberries and cassis. It shows more pure fruit than the 2018 but also a bit more concentration. Medium to full-bodied, tannic and more "Cornas-like," it's firm, streamlined and long on the palate.

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Vinous

92-94 Pts

Josh Raynolds, May 2020 (Vintage 2019)

Vibrant blackberry, cherry and floral pastille aromas are complicated by suggestions of exotic spices and smoky minerals. Penetrating, appealingly sweet black/blue fruit flavors gain weight and spiciness as the wine opens up. Broad, well-knit tannins add gentle grip to a long, floral-dominated finish that leaves a repeating mineral note behind.

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