Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 27/12/2012 The 2010 Cornas Vieilles Vignes has off-the-charts richness as well as an extraordinarily precise nose of blackberry and blueberry jam intermixed with cassis, charcoal, lead pencil shavings, pen ink and acacia flowers. A wine of exceptional intensity with a multidimensional mouthfeel and a 55-second finish, this quintessential Cornas should drink well for 20-30 years. One of the superstars of Cornas is Domaine Alain Voge. In the top vintages, three cuvees are made, but in most years only two are produced, Vieilles Vignes and Les Chailles, from Voge’s 15 plus acres of Syrah planted on the decomposed granite slopes of Cornas. He also produces small quantities of St.-Joseph and as many as four cuvees of white wine from St.-Peray, including a sparkling white. The family has 10 acres of vines in this appellation, planted with 95% Marsanne and 5% Roussanne. Voge is also a leader in producing serious white wines from the up-and-coming micro-appellation of St.-Peray. I did not taste the sparkling white Voge and his brilliant assistant, Albert Mazoyer produce, but readers seeking a top white wine need look no further than Voge’s Fleur de Crussol. The real glories at Voge are his extraordinary offerings from Cornas. The three 2010 Cornas represent the pinnacle of Voge’s winemaking. They are the finest wines I have yet tasted from this estate (and I’ve been tasting their wines since the late seventies). Importer: Citadel Trading Corp., New York, NY; tel. (212) 245-2844

The 2010 Cornas Vieilles Vignes is jaw-dropping stuff. Inky colored and incredibly concentrated, with sensational notes of bouquet garni, iron (blind I might have guess 2010 Clape), violets, crushed rock and decent black and blue fruits all soaring from the glass. Full-bodied, layered and pure, with awesome freshness despite it massive size and concentration, it's a profound Cornas that needs another 3-4 years of bottle age yet will have three decades of overall longevity.