Wine Advisor
Alain Voge, Cornas Les Vieilles Fontaines 2019
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Joe Czerwinski
Salted licorice and crème de cassis mark the nose of the 2019 Cornas Vieilles Fontaines, another clear step up in the hierarchy of bottlings at Alain Voge. Produced from 80-year-old vines situated near a spring, which virtually prevents the vines from shutting down even during hot, dry years, the wine ages two years in 15% to 20% new French oak. Full-bodied, concentrated and rich, tannic but supple and loaded with aging potential, this is an extraordinary Cornas.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Opaque ruby. Powerful, spice- and mineral-accented black and blue fruit preserve scents show superb focus and pick up smoked meat, olive and potpourri nuances with air. Sappy, deeply concentrated and energetic as well, offering juicy, spice-driven cassis, blueberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that are firmed by a core of smoky minerality. Blends power and finesse with a sure hand and finishes extremely long and minerally, with steadily building tannins and resonating blue fruit and floral notes. Made with one-third whole clusters.
About the Producer
Domaine Alain Voge is a family-run winery based in Cornas and has over time built itself the reputation as a superstar of the appellation and its benchmark without doubt. It was founded many generations ago but was blessed with the talented beginnings in winemaking by Alain himself in 1958. Alain tore up the rule book, updated the winemaking techniques of his father, expanded the vineyards and began bottling his wines himself. With over 70 parcels of vines totaling seven hectares, it is no wonder that Alain Voge sometimes seems distracted. Half in jest, he says that the reason he harvests so late is to figure out which vines are his. He spent some time under Albéric Mazoyer, manager and associate of Alain Voge from 2004-2018, before progressing further and making a start in organic production. Thus, since 2013,the whole vineyard is run using biodynamic agriculture, where an artisan and entirely manual viticulture is practiced on the slopes of the Rhône’s rive droite. Since 2018,Lionel Fraissehas been at the helm. He continues to champion the sustainable winemaking of his predecessors.
