Wine Advisor
Noel Verset, Cornas 2003
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer
The 2003 Cornas is a surprisingly elegant wine for such a ripe vintage. Indeed, '03 produced many wines that have already begun to fall apart due to excessive alcohol levels and over-ripe fruit character. Not this one. It's quite ripe, admittedly, with deeply pitched dark berry and cherry pit aromas and flavors thate show the warmth of the vintage without coming off stewy. Notes of woodsmoke, black olive, pipe tobacco and floral oils come up with air, along with a hint of bacon fat. This is like a Cliff's Notes description of syrah, actually. It becomes livelier and fresher as the wine opens up, showing cherry compote and blackberry qualities on an extremely long, surprisingly tannic (for its age) finish. Definitely in the dark fruit spectrum, as Verset's wines go, but it still displays the domain's trademark finesse.
About the Producer
Noël Verset is a revered name in the Cornas appellation of the Rhône Valley, where he began winemaking in 1931 alongside his father. He established his own estate in 1943 and remained active until the 2000 vintage. Renowned for his traditional practices, Verset produced a single cuvée that showcased the unique balance of his diverse terroirs. His meticulous methods included low yields, whole bunch fermentation, and aging in old demi-muid barrels. Verset's wines are celebrated for their elegance and ability to balance any vintage's excesses. He was instrumental in putting Cornas on the international wine map and influenced generations of winemakers.
