Courbis, Cornas Sabarotte other_regions_italy

Courbis, Cornas Sabarotte other_regions_italyAn impressive effort thats still youthful and lively, the Courbis brothers 2003 Cornas La Sabarotte (which spent 18 months in 100% new French oak) offers knockout aromas and flavors of black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, new leather, charcoal and wild herbs. Medium to full bodied, with fabulous concentration and depth, it still needs another year or two, and will drink nicely through 2028.

Pierre Lurton and technical director Pierre-Olivier Clouet told me that the final blend is 72% merlot and 28% cabernet franc (it was 75% merlot and 25% cabernet franc during the Primeurs)

mango and honey with spices nuances

too the style is quite restrained for a wine that in the past has played more on textural richness and volume

with good varietal character and impeccable balance

As is typically the case there is more volume and midpalate concentration to the focused medium-bodied flavors that are shaped by somewhat finer tannins on the lacy and impressively refined finale

Cooler and more reserved red raspberry

it's always vintage dated

There is a beguiling sense of tension to the lightly mineral-inflected middle weight flavors that really build in intensity to the powerful and impressively persistent and naturally sweet finish where a hint of warmth surfaces

Peutes Vignes and Chaumes de Narvaux)

the wine exhibits notes of graphite and black cherry liqueur

3 ha holding)

An energetic red