Domaine Alain Voge - Cornas Les Chailles 2021

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A combination of several hillside plots, named after the siliceous Triassic concretions that abound here, this cuvée is a faithful evocation of the cru, without any show of force. Precise and subtle, the nose marries violet, wild strawberry, Sichuan pepper and aromatic herbs (sage, savory). Intense, caressing, supported by a firm, long tannic structure, the palate is convincing with its fresh finish, tinged with a singular bitterness. A fine, complex cornas with unstoppable balance, which will come into its own after a few years' cellaring.

About the domain :

Alain Voge joined his father on the family estate in 1958. Abandoning mixed farming, replanting abandoned hillsides, selling direct from the bottle, he put the vineyard on the right track, 12 ha today cultivated organically and biodynamically. Regularly in the spotlight for his cornas and saint-péray.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

Despite the climatic challenges of 2021, general manager Lionel Fraisse was all smiles when I rang the doorbell of the small tasting room in the village of Cornas. I thought I caught a glimpse of the widow Voge behind the curtains to my right, where she continues to live since Alain's death in 2020. There will be no Saint-Péray Ongrie from 2021, nor Saint-Péray pétillant from this year, says Fraisse, as these vineyards have been devastated by frost and mildew. In addition, Fraisse said no decision had yet been made on the separate bottling of a 2020 Chapelle Saint Pierre and a Vieilles Fontaines. Fortunately, the 2019 versions here are solid, with the 2019 Vieilles Fontaines (still in barrel at the time of my visit) particularly impressive. We took advantage of my visit to inquire about some of the 2011 and 2001 wines, so owners of these will find updated reviews in this report. This organic estate remains a great source of Cornas and Saint-Péray.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

The entire vineyard has been certified biodynamic since 2013. The estate boasts exceptional hillside vineyards, entirely worked by hand. The presence of old vines also contributes to producing wines with a strong personality. The Fleur de Crussol cuvée, located in the La Côte area, comes from a vineyard over 70 years old. Since the 2015 vintage, the Terres Boisées cuvée bears the name of the parcel it comes from: Ongrie, located on granitic alluvium. Les Vinsonnes has also been renamed Les Côtes, after the terroir in the village of Mauves. In red, Les Vieilles Fontaines comes from 80-year-old vines planted on decomposed granite.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Intense, serious nose of biltong, smoked game and meat. Good concentration of fruit and firm tannins. The wine's fresh acidity gives it energy. The tannins are very present and need to calm down a little, but they are very pleasant to taste.

James Suckling

About the wine:

On the nose, lots of blackberry, blackcurrant, roasted meat and violet aromas. Medium-bodied, with fine, firm tannins. Impressive volume for 12.5% alcohol. Creamy on the palate, with plenty of succulent cherry fruit and lively acidity. Vibrant finish.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Juicy red and blue fruits, spring flowers, violets and notes of iron and black pepper emerge from Cornas Les Chailles 2021, a medium-bodied Cornas from this formidable producer that is balanced, remarkably pure, with fine tannins and exceptional length.