Wine Advisor
Alain Voge, Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes 2021
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Nicolas Greinacher
The 2021 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes fared well in this challenging vintage. Part of the reason is that no Les Vieilles Fontaines was produced that year, and all those grapes went into this cuvée. Ripe black fruits mingle with crushed violets, pencil shavings, iodine and meaty gradations. Medium-bodied at most, the refreshing 2021 is exceptionally light on its feet and dazzles with an elegant finish.
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.
