Cornas Chante Perdrix, Delas Frères 2009

The 2009 Cornas Chante Perdrix is all of that, but slightly softer because of the style of the vintage. It is hard to say that any Cornas can be opulent because the tannins are often off the charts, but this 2009 has a voluptuous opening on the palate before the tannins begin to ratchet up. Inky/purple-hued, layered and full-bodied, it offers notes of smoked meats, duck, Chinese black tea, blackberries and licorice. It is an enormously inky, thick wine that needs to be forgotten for 5-6 years and drunk over the following 20-25 years.