Jacques Lemenicier, Cornas 2021

92 points Jeb Dunnuck
"The 2021 Cornas is solid, with a pretty, medium-bodied, elegant prolife that shines for its purity of fruit. Both red and blue fruits, sappy flowers, cedary spice, and hints of iron all define the bouquet, and it's silky and balanced on the palate, with a great mouthfeel. It shows the more mid-weight style of the vintage but is beautifully put together."

92 points James Suckling
"A round and well-balanced red with notes of dark cherries, blackberries, dried herbs and peppercorns. It’s medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins and fresh acidity. Loads of fruit on the palate and in the salivating dark cherry-like finish. Drink or hold."

Vinous Reverie Notes
From his small vineyard in the Northern Rhone Valley, Jacques Lemenicier produces two wines: a profound Cornas from 100% Syrah and a highly aromatic Saint-Peray from Marsanne and Rousanne. 9.39 acres of Cornas are divided into 3 categories: 30% on slopes facing the village of Cornas with vines planted in the 1930s; 50% on hillsides in the foothills of Cornas planted in the 1960s-1970s at an altitude of 350 meters; 20% of hillsides facing the village of Cornas planted in the late-1980s to mid-1990s. The old vines are 100% de-stemmed, then put in tank with morning and evening punch downs. For the younger vines, located on the foothills of Cornas and harvested later, the grapes remain 100% whole cluster and go through the same punch down regimen. Vinification lasts 22 to 28 days. These two wines are both aged 12 months in oak barrels and are blended before bottling. Tasting Notes: Deep color with a dark purple color with a violet reflection. Framed by a still present aging, the nose must escape to release a kirsch fruit as well as refined notes of floral, spicy and bouquet nature, mocha, licorice stick and nutmeg, violet, cherry in juice and stone. Lots of generosity, the silky substance, the mineral grain and the melted tannins, while undergoing the renewed hardness communicated by the freshness of the acidity.