Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes Rhone, France 2018

VINTAGE : 2018

COUNTRY : France

REGION/APPELLATION : Northern Rhone, Cornas

VARIETALS : 100 % Syrah

This is our classic wine. The oldest of the Domain’s wines, it was created during the 1970s to highlight the long-standing family vineyard. Vines for this wine are located in the heart of the appellation, facing those we first replanted. Les Vieilles Vignes is a wine that reflects our history and our winemaking know-how. The entire domain is cultivated using organic and biodynamic viticulture. Situated on slopes at an altitude of approximately 200 metres, facing South-South-East, the vines of our classic wine are on average 60 years old. Their roots delve deep down into old, worn granite rock, called gores locally. 

Vigneron Alain Voge died in September 2020 but had been fully retired for more than a decade, with the business being run by Albéric Mazoyer from 2006-2018 and by Lionel Fraisse since then. The Voge wines are neither hardcore traditional nor modern; let's call them classic renderings of Cornas, destemmed and touched with oak and farmed along biodynamic principles.

"While not submitted to my tasting (and it wasn't presented from barrel last year), it would be hard to imagine there won't be a Les Vieilles Fontaines cuvée. Don't miss a chance to buy a bottle if you find one. Moving to the 2018 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes, this beauty is cut from the same cloth as the Les Chailles yet is deeper and richer, with another level of concentration. Black and blue fruits, ground pepper, violets, smoked game, and loads of spring flower notes define the bouquet, and it has a vibrant, almost old school vibe that carries plenty of power yet still stays light and elegant on the palate. This beautiful, singular wine is open and enjoyable today, yet I wouldn't be surprised to see it close down with a year or two of bottle age. It should see its 20th birthday in fine form." Jeb Dunnuck 98 points