Chapoutier’s “prestige” selection sits just under their “Selection Parcellaire” range; the mission here is to produce wines that speak of, or even define, their appellation. They come without the Selection Parcellaire price tag and, notably, they do not see the same levels of extraction and oak influence, making them a far more approachable proposition: these are wines that show well at five to fifteen years of age rather than fifteen to thirty.
Chapoutier’s Cornas Les Arènes is a blend from vineyards across the appellation including Les Reynards, Patou, Champelrose, Mazards and Les Côtes. Roughly half of these are on soils of decomposed granite and the rest on clay limestone. The fruit is all hand-harvested, destemmed, fermented over 10 days in concrete then sees 3 weeks maceration before aging: 80% in oak, the balance in concrete.
In 2019 the resulting wine is undeniably Cornas: rich and dark-fruited with a distinctly ferrous and meaty edge. “It’s beautifully done and just a classic, dark, smoky Cornas to drink over the coming 10-15 years”, writes Jeb Dunnuck, scoring it 94 points. “It's an exceptional vintage for this cuvée, finishing long and softly dusty.”, writes Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate, scoring it 92+.
Priced at £165 per 6 in bond, it looks like a deal to us for lovers of a meatier style of Syrah. The polished style is such that it can be drunk now, though a few years more in bottle will pay dividends.
The wine will be available for delivery within a fortnight.
The 2019 Cornas Les Arênes has lots of granite-like character (although this comes from a mix of terroirs) in its bouquet garni, morello cherry, spice, and powdered rock and smoky nuances. Beautiful on the palate as well, it’s medium to full-bodied, has ripe yet building tannins, remarkable elegance, and a great finish. It’s beautifully done and just a classic, dark, smoky Cornas to drink over the coming 10-15 years.
Like almost all of Chapoutier's 2019s, the 2019 Cornas les Arênes is more impressive than its 2020 counterpart. Crushed stone, dried herbs, red plums and black cherries appear on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is rich, concentrated and dense. It's an exceptional vintage for this cuvée, finishing long and softly dusty. 2023-2035
The 2019 Arenes is unapologetically Cornas, with a deep ruby colour and rich, dark-fruited nose tinged with notes of iron filings and blood. There are notes of tar, black olive and blackberry fruit that line the palate, ripe and full bodied with chalky but softening tannins. This has impressive concentration and you can, just about, drink it now with its powerful flavour profile and ripe fruit. Long and spicy on the finish; all leather, tar and dark fruit.
