2016 Cornas Empreintes
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Tasting notes
Deep purple-colored, the 2016 Cornas Empreintes is a smoking good effort. Blackberries, plums, cured meats, pepper, and earthy notes all flow from this rounded, sexy, powerful Cornas that has beautiful mid-palate depth and density as well as a great finish. Drink this smoking good 2016 any time over the coming decade. Consistently brilliant wines emerge from Domaine Durand, which is run with incredible talent and passion by Eric and Joël Durand. Located in the tiny village of Châteaubourg, they pull from roughly 22 hectares of vines, 8.5 hectares in Saint Joseph, 9.5 hectares in Cornas and tiny amounts in Saint-Péray and Vin de Pays. The brothers took over the estate in 1991, and while the winemaking is relatively modern, these are classic, pure, beautifully made wines that speak clearly to their region and terroir.
Critic scores
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Cornas Empreintes features hints of cedar, brown sugar and dried spices layered over its plummy fruit (it was aged in 20% new oak, with the bulk in older wood). Full-bodied, supple and ripe, it's charming but with more stuffing than that word suggests, showing ample concentration and soft, dusty tannins on the long finish. It's a terrific Cornas to drink over the next 10-12 years.
Bright purple. Ripe berries, cherry preserves, licorice, woodsmoke and vanilla on the deeply perfumed nose. Concentrated and powerful but energetic as well; juicy acidity sharpens the densely packed blackberry, bitter cherry and olive paste flavors. The impressively long, velvety finish features harmonious tannins, a touch of candied violet and lingering smokiness.
Blackcurrant, higher tannin than their other Cornas cuvées, though it is still a very approachable style. Fine grain, smooth texture, reasonably long finish. Not the most intense or most complex, but there is enough core flavour to develop well. (RH)