Domaine Alain Voge - Cornas Les Chailles 2021

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Combining several plots at the foot of the hillsides and named after the abundant Triassic siliceous concretions found there, this cuvée offers a faithful evocation of the vintage without any show of force. Precise and subtle, the nose combines violet, wild strawberry, Sichuan pepper, and aromatic herbs (sage, savory). Intense and caressing, supported by firm, slender tannins, the palate finishes with a fresh, slightly bitter aftertaste. A refined and complex Cornas with impeccable balance, which will reach its full potential after a few years of aging.

About the estate:

Alain Voge joined his father on the family estate in 1958. Abandoning mixed farming, replanting abandoned hillsides, and selling directly by the bottle, he put the vineyard on track, with 12 hectares now cultivated organically and biodynamically. Regularly in the spotlight for his Cornas and Saint-Péray wines.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

Despite the climatic challenges of 2021, CEO Lionel Fraisse had a smile on his face 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 has continued to live since Alain's death in 2020. There will be no Saint-Péray Ongrie from 2021, nor any sparkling Saint-Péray from this year, says Fraisse, as these vineyards have been devastated by frost and mildew. In addition, Fraisse said that no decision had yet been made regarding the separate bottling of a Chapelle Saint Pierre 2020 and a Vieilles Fontaines. Fortunately, the 2019 versions here are solid, with the Vieilles Fontaines 2019 (still in barrel at the time of my visit) particularly impressive. We took advantage of my visit to find out about some wines from 2011 and 2001, so owners of these will find updated reviews in this report. This organic estate remains a fine source of Cornas and Saint-Péray.

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

About the estate:

The entire vineyard has been certified biodynamic since 2013. The estate has exceptional hillside vineyards, which are 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 that is over 70 years old. Since the 2015 vintage, the Terres Boisées cuvée has been named after the plot from which it comes: Ongrie, located on granite alluvial deposits. There has also been a change for Les Vinsonnes, which has become Les Côtes, named after the terroir located in the village of Mauves. The red wine Les Vieilles Fontaines comes from 80-year-old vines planted on decomposed granite.

Jancis Robinson

About wine:

Intense and serious nose, biltong, game, and smoked 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 wine:

On the nose, lots of aromas of blackberry, blackcurrant, roasted meat, and violet. Medium-bodied, with fine, firm tannins. The volume is impressive for an alcohol content of 12.5%. The palate is creamy with lots of succulent cherries and lively acidity. Vibrant finish.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

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