Johann Michel Cornas 2016

Johann Michel Cornas is 100% Syrah

Well structured and round, it displays red fruit, leather, black cherry, liquorice and black berry aromas.

Manual harvest, selection of the grapes from the "Chaillot" parcel, full clusters, fermentation in tanks for 3 weeks, daily remontage and pigeage. Malolactic fermentation in oak barrels and aging on the lees for 12-18 months in barrels (new old barrels) The average age of the vines is 12 years. Yield: 25 hl/ha

Review:

"The base 2016 Cornas from Michel is brilliant and a match for just about anything out there. Completely destemmed and brought up in 2- to 4-year-old barrels, its deep purple color is followed by a monster nose of black fruits, olives, cured meats, and wild herbs. Deep, full-bodied, and incredibly pure on the palate, it shows the classic style of the vintage yet also packs plenty of depth and richness. It’s a thrilling Cornas to drink over the coming 15-20 years."

- Jeb Dunnuck (March 27th 2019), 95 pts

The Domaine Johann Michel Estate
Johann Michel is a young self taught winemaker who discovered his passion while tasting old bottles of wine with his grandfather. His first vintage was 1997.

The Domaine Johann Michel Vineyards
AOC Cornas is one of the smallest AOC in France (only 116.4 hectares = 288 acres). He now farms 4.17 hectares under "culture raisonnee" (sustainable) method in the lieux dits "Les Cotes", "Bayonnet", "Chaillot" and the parcel called "Saveaux" for the AOC Cornas.

Very low yields for all the wines. only 33 hectoliters per hectares for the Cornas tradition.