Domaine Courbis Cornas Champelrose 2019

Dark violet color. Ripe dark berries, pungent flowers, licorice and cracked pepper on the expressive nose. Juicy and broad on entry, offering bitter cherry, black raspberry and baking spice flavors and a sweetening vanilla flourish. Round, polished tannins emerge slowly on a very long, smoky finish that strongly echoes the berry and floral notes.

Looking at the Cornas, the 2019 Cornas Champelrose has a medium to full-bodied, round, nicely textured style, and while it's unquestionably Cornas, it has a pure, elegant profile as well and I called this quasi-modern in my notes. Asian spice, peppery herbs, sandalwood, and some savory, herbal notes define the bouquet, and it has plenty of ripe, blacker fruits that develop with time in the glass. I like this today, and it should easily continue drinking nicely for another 10-12 years.

Vivid and racy in style, with a chalky frame that guides the core of cassis and cherry reduction notes from start to finish, picking up dark tobacco, sanguine, chestnut and cast iron accents along the way. Best from 2023 through 2036.

Less massive and ripe than I expected, the 2019 Cornas Champelrose is actually on the taut side, with fresh purple raspberries and hints of tart redcurrants. It's medium to full-bodied, with a silky feel to the lingering finish.