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A pure Syrah from an appellation that deserves to stand alongside Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage
Mention the Northern Rhône Valley, and most wine lovers immediately think of Côte-Rôtie or Hermitage.
Their reputations are well deserved.
Yet tucked away on the steep granite hillsides just south of them lies another remarkable appellation: Cornas.
Less famous, perhaps, but no less compelling.
The Cornas 2022 from Domaine Vendome is a wonderful introduction to this exceptional terroir—a wine that captures everything that makes Cornas so distinctive: depth, freshness, and the unmistakable character of Syrah grown on granite.
Cornas – one grape, one village, one identity
Cornas is unique.
Unlike many French appellations that allow several grape varieties, Cornas is devoted exclusively to 100% Syrah.
The vineyards cling to steep, south-facing slopes where generations of growers have patiently built dry-stone terraces to cultivate vines in conditions that leave little room for machinery.
The name Cornas is thought to derive from the Celtic word for “burnt earth”, a reference to the intense southern exposure that helps Syrah reach perfect ripeness while maintaining remarkable freshness.
Today, although it remains one of the smallest appellations in the Northern Rhône, Cornas is increasingly recognised as one of the region’s finest sources of characterful Syrah.
Domaine Vendome – letting the terroir speak
At Domaine Vendome, the philosophy is built around revealing the identity of Cornas rather than shaping it.
The vineyards grow on a combination of granite and baryte, two geological features that define much of the appellation.
Granite is fundamental to the Northern Rhône. It provides excellent drainage while encouraging the vines to send their roots deep into the rock in search of water and nutrients.
The presence of baryte, a naturally occurring mineral found in parts of Cornas, contributes another layer to the complexity of these remarkable soils and gives its name to one of the estate’s parcels.
Syrah in its purest form
Few grape varieties express their place as clearly as Syrah.
In warmer climates, it can be rich and generous.
On the granite slopes of the Northern Rhône, however, it becomes something quite different.
Here, Syrah develops aromas of blackberries, violets, black pepper, olive tapenade, and herbs, supported by an unmistakable mineral freshness that gives the wines both energy and longevity.
Cornas is often considered one of the most authentic expressions of the variety.
Traditional winemaking with careful ageing
The grapes are harvested entirely by hand before being destemmed and transferred to the fermentation vats by gravity, a gentle process that helps preserve the integrity of the fruit.
After a cold pre-fermentation maceration, the wine remains on its skins for around four weeks, extracting colour, aroma, and finely structured tannins.
The ageing is equally thoughtful.
The wine spends its first six months in stainless steel vats to preserve freshness, before maturing for fourteen months in demi-muids, with only 25% new oak.
Using these larger barrels allows the oak to support the wine rather than dominate it, preserving the purity of the Syrah while gradually adding texture and complexity.
In the glass – strength with elegance
The Domaine Vendome Cornas 2022 immediately reveals the personality of the appellation.
The nose combines ripe black fruits with notes of cracked black pepper, violet, liquorice, and the savoury aromas so typical of Northern Rhône Syrah.
On the palate, the wine is concentrated yet remarkably balanced. The tannins are firm but beautifully integrated, while the granite soils bring freshness that carries the wine through a long, mineral finish.
This is not a wine that seeks power for its own sake.
It is a wine built on harmony.
A hidden treasure of the Northern Rhône
Cornas has never enjoyed quite the same international fame as Côte-Rôtie or Hermitage.
Perhaps that is part of its charm.
It remains an appellation cherished by those who appreciate authenticity, where the steep vineyards, demanding manual work, and uncompromising focus on Syrah continue to produce wines of remarkable personality.
The Domaine Vendome Cornas 2022 is a beautiful ambassador for this exceptional village.
A wine that reminds us that some of France’s greatest discoveries are often found just beyond the most famous names—and that, in the Northern Rhône, Syrah reaches extraordinary heights not only in Côte-Rôtie, but also on the granite slopes of Cornas.
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