Noël Verset
Cornas Syrah
Cornas, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
First, the Gentaz and now, Verset?! Be still my beating heart! Noël Verset is a freaking legend. His first vintage was during the period of peace between the first and second world war which means, for most of his career, Cornas was a tough place to make a living making wine. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that things began to turn around and by that time, Noël was in his 70’s. Talk about perseverance. By the time he made this 1996 vintage, he had already started selling off some of his vineyards and by 2006, he was done making wine altogether.
And this 1996? It is lighter in color than the other wines in the Cornas line-up; almost a pale garnet with a transparent core. The nose is just crazy. I just wanted to smell it for the rest of the night. Wild mixed berries, dried purple flowers, garrigue, tobacco, and coffee. This was a Cornas of elegance and thinner on the palate relative to the Allemand and Clape. Long finish. Divine with venison, umami bomb, potato and pearl onion. Drinking very well now and could hold for longer but why?
First, the Gentaz and now, Verset?! Be still my beating heart! Noël Verset is a freaking legend. His first vintage was during the period of peace between the first and second world war which means, for most of his career, Cornas was a tough place to make a living making wine. It wasn’t until the 1990’s that things began to turn around and by that time, Noël was in his 70’s. Talk about perseverance. By the time he made this 1996 vintage, he had already started selling off some of his vineyards and by 2006, he was done making wine altogether.
And this 1996? It is lighter in color than the other wines in the Cornas line-up; almost a pale garnet with a transparent core. The nose is just crazy. I just wanted to smell it for the rest of the night. Wild mixed berries, dried purple flowers, garrigue, tobacco, and coffee. This was a Cornas of elegance and thinner on the palate relative to the Allemand and Clape. Long finish. Divine with venison, umami bomb, potato and pearl onion. Drinking very well now and could hold for longer but why?
Light red fruits and savory smoke. All the aromatics I love about northern Rhone syrah,
Light red fruits and savory smoke. All the aromatics I love about northern Rhone syrah,
1 person found it helpfulSep 22nd, 2016Noel.
Noel.
Nov 28th, 2012
Sales Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant
Roasted nuts, bright acid, dark fruit meets red fruit. The age has helped this angular wine flesh out.
Roasted nuts, bright acid, dark fruit meets red fruit. The age has helped this angular wine flesh out.
May 21st, 20173 September 2016. The Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, NY.
3 September 2016. The Four Horsemen, Brooklyn, NY.
Sep 4th, 2016
There are people who will never taste this or any other verset since his last vintage was a decade ago. This is wine... Most of what else is just rated hyped bullspit. This wine got better and better over four hours and showed the bountiful blue and black fruit the region is known for. This wine has a smoky tint to it that underpinned everything.... This is a majestic effort that will love another 20 years'm
There are people who will never taste this or any other verset since his last vintage was a decade ago. This is wine... Most of what else is just rated hyped bullspit. This wine got better and better over four hours and showed the bountiful blue and black fruit the region is known for. This wine has a smoky tint to it that underpinned everything.... This is a majestic effort that will love another 20 years'm
May 11th, 2016Deep fruit, asphalt, hot tar, pyrazine: anise, eucalyptus. Far and away my fav Syrah of the night. Heads and shoulders above the rest and I hate to say it. This did have the benefit of age on its side, though.
Deep fruit, asphalt, hot tar, pyrazine: anise, eucalyptus. Far and away my fav Syrah of the night. Heads and shoulders above the rest and I hate to say it. This did have the benefit of age on its side, though.
Dec 14th, 2017