Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes 2016

Alain Voge was one of the founders of the Cornas appellation. The estate is also known for one of the freshest and most elegant styles in the region. In addition to the red Syrahs from Cornas, the estate is also highly regarded for its white wines from St. Péray. Traditionally, these white wines are made exclusively from the Marsanne grape.

The family estate has existed since 1905. At the beginning of the 20th century, Alain's great-grandfather came to Cornas as a seed salesman and bought his first plot of agricultural land. Alain started working on the farm with his father Louis in the 1960s. Finally, in 1972, Alain decided that the estate would focus entirely on viticulture. Alain has always been a patron saint of the appellation. He has fought many times for the right to exist of Cornas and St. Péray; it is certainly fair to say that these appellations would no longer exist without Voge. Under his leadership, the leading vineyards Les Vieilles Fontaines and Chapelle de Saint-Pierre were planted. Furthermore, the vines of the Vieilles Vignes are located on the prestigious Chaillot, Reynard and La Côte slopes. In 1999, he also acquired the Fleur de Crussol vineyard, which has the oldest Marsanne vines in the entire appellation. After delivering many amazing vintages, with innovation in the cellar and in the environment, and the transition to organic and biodynamic principles, Alain passed away in 2020 at the age of 81. His successor is Lionel Fraise. For a long time, he was Alain's right-hand man, and he is now entrusted with the future of the estate by the surviving Voge family. In our opinion, it is in extremely good hands with the cheerful Lionel, who says he now has to play "the big cheese."

St. Péray is located in a flatter valley where, in addition to granite, there are also colluvial limestone deposits. The calcareous soil helps to create tension in the Marsanne. After all, Marsanne is a grape with an almost negligible acidity. Lionel therefore says that freshness and tension must be sought in other elements of the wine, because you won't get acidity anyway. He emphasizes the importance of bitterness, tannins, and salty minerality for achieving depth in St. Péray. The higher cuvées Ongrie and Fleur de Crussol ferment and age in wood. They now also make a basic cuvée Harmonie, which ages in concrete. This promotes texture but allows the grape to show more of its pure character.

Cornas, on the other hand, ascends the slopes and is located on sandy granite, which characterizes the power and pepperiness of the Syrah here. Most vineyards are located on this steep section between 150 and 300 meters above sea level. La Vieille Fontaine has an average of 80-year-old vines on the steepest part of the slope; a vineyard that, according to Lionel, strikes the perfect harmony between power and refinement. However, for us, the most special vineyard is La Chapelle Saint-Pierre, which was planted by Alain in 2000 at the highest point of Cornas (380 meters). Here the slope flattens out and the vineyard fully enjoys the mistral. This wine is only made as a separate cuvée in the best years, so if you see it's available, seize the opportunity!