Wine Advisor
Johann Michel, Cornas 2019
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Shimmering ruby. Smoke-accented dark berries, potpourri, olive and cracked pepper on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy, supple and appealingly sweet, offering pliant blackberry, cherry liqueur and candied violet flavors that are firmed by a spine of juicy acidity. Youthfully chewy tannins frame a persistent, mineral- and spice-accented finish that echoes the cherry and olive notes.x000D 20% whole clusters.
Reviewed by: Josh Raynolds
Shimmering ruby. Smoke-accented dark berries, potpourri, olive and cracked pepper on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy, supple and appealingly sweet, offering pliant blackberry, cherry liqueur and candied violet flavors that are firmed by a spine of juicy acidity. Youthfully chewy tannins frame a persistent, mineral- and spice-accented finish that echoes the cherry and olive notes.x000D 20% whole clusters.
About the Producer
Johann Michel discovered his passion for wine while tasting old wines in Cornas with his grandfather and uncle, the famous winemaker Robert Miche. The first vintage of his own label Cornas was 1997. He is now at the Cornas farm 4.17 hectares, one of the smallest AOCs in France (only 288 hectares), located in Bayonnet, Les Côtes, Chaillots and Leonine lieux-dits of Saveaux. Although his current methods largely make up the grounds, Michel is interested in biodynamics and has begun to incorporate practices such as cooper treatments rather than harsher chemicals on the vines. Cornas AOC yields are notoriously low (33 hl/ha), which explains the concentration of the juice. His total annual production is only about £20,000 a year.