Johann Michel Cornas 2022

Johann Michel Cornas 2022 This exceptional Northern Rhône red is crafted from 100% Syrah, blending 60% fruit from 20-year-old hillside vines on decomposed granite for structure, and 40% from 40-year-old bottom-slope vines on sandy soils for crucial acidity. The warm, dry 2022 vintage tested the vines but ultimately yielded a highly concentrated crop with remarkable purity, expertly managed by self-taught winemaker Johann Michel who farms his tiny Cornas AOC parcels under sustainable "culture raisonnée" methods. In the glass, the wine displays a deep purple-ruby hue with brilliant clarity and moderate viscosity, opening to an expressive nose of dark wild berries, black cherry, and crushed violets layered with secondary notes of sappy herbs, leather, and carnal roasted meat. On the palate, this dry, medium to full-bodied wine enrobes the mouth with a fleshy core of blackcurrant, framed by velvety tannins and a juicy spine of acidity that drives a long, graphite-inflected finish. The grapes were completely destemmed and fermented in stainless steel for three weeks with daily pigeage, followed by 12 months of aging in used French oak demi-muids to let the granitic terroir shine without being masked by new wood. For food pairings, this robust Syrah is magnificent alongside a slow-smoked beef brisket, where the wine's peppery, meaty notes perfectly echo the savory bark and smoke. It is equally stunning with a grilled ribeye steak topped with chimichurri, as the gripping tannins effortlessly cut through the rich fat, or paired with a hearty venison stew that highlights the wine's earthy, iron-rich profile. Earning impressive scores of 93 points from Jeb Dunnuck and 92 points from the Wine Advocate, this 2022 Cornas represents an outstanding value, offering world-class pedigree at a relatively affordable price point for its prestigious class.