Cornas Syrah

Very pretty. Lucid fruit. Good structure with a savory and animal element. Not too intense but very correct with black pepper and herbs. Good stuff

Usually perfect wine but this bottle was majorly closed. For 2 days. But the finesse, breading and class still shined through. Closed a 9.7.

Wrapping up a wild weekend, I finished this bottle of Cuchet-Beliando Cornas that I opened Friday evening. It was awesome on the pop and pour and continued to develop in a lovely arc through Sunday evening when I enjoyed my last glass. The 2017 pours a deep ruby/purple with a magenta rim and what’s basically an opaque core. Medium+ viscosity and moderate staining, with some signs of sediment. On the nose the wine is developing with notes of the most pure black and red brambles, some blueberries, a bit of animale, deli case, pimento loaf, lavender, a whole Pensey’s bag of Tellicherry pepper corns, black olives, cedar and gentle warm spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium acid. Confirming the notes from the palate although the brambles are a bit more red. The finish is long and with loads of meat and black pepper. This is a stunning Cornas that has some real class behind the feral Cornas curtain. I really love this…but I’m an absolute sucker for the Rhône. Drink now with some patience but this will be brilliant for decades. 2024-2057. Thanks for the assist @Lyle Fass

Young and stunning. Hard to taste with so many older Rhônes.

Just a hugely expressive nose of dark berry fruit and huge amounts of crushed granite. Blowing me away. Insane clarity. Exuberant minerality. Stunning depth. A 10.0 nose. Yes I said it. This is a no brainer 10.0 nose. Palate is a bit behind but it is all there. Such fine, elegant and refined tannins and unreal purity and length. The length is truly crazy. 2+ minute finish. Nose gets some bittersweet cocoa, some spice and confectionary florals. Wow. The finish is maybe 3+ minutes. Unreal concentration and just so nimble and pure. This is young obviously but needed to taste: Will follow throughout the day. This will get better. 9.7 for now.

The 7 hour update.

Nose is perfect melange of blueberry/blackberry and granite. Also a meatiness has developed. So detailed and just perfect. 10/10. No more notes.

Palate has softened a bit but still is tight! The will be a 40 year Beliando. Wow the texture is velvety and the tannins are big but refined. Much more mineral at the juncture. Loooonf finish. But it has lost some midpalate effect. Will try one more time before midnight.

Yup. Wine does get better.

Best bottle of this I’ve had. Outrageous. Round nose, palate so delicate, just seamless. Finish is minutes.

I drink way too much Beliando but wouldn’t you if you were in my shoes?

Brilliant. For my Dad’s 86th!

Never ever thought I’d have this again. As perfect as Syrah gets. Thanks @Severn Goodwin !