2020 Johann Michel Cornas
Community Tasting Note
Rote Kappelle Likes this wine:
Tuesday, March 14, 2023 - Herr Presser makes some good comments in his note. I think the PQR in Oz is outstanding for this wine. This is clean and technically well made (traditionally not always a given in Cornas), yet it provides strong regionality to provide some character.
Jeb Dunnuck rated this wine even higher than I have, and I say you should fear his name. The good Dunnuck's handle brings to mind some of the blood curdling types from the bad side in the Civil War (yes, Mr Quantrill, that means you, but there is also the obvious comparison with Jeb Stuart). In supporting this wine, the modern Jeb has a better cause than the forebears I have assigned him.
This is a big Cornas (they all are, but some are 'biggerer' than others), as befits the vintage. I get delicious ripe, dark plum, a touch of blackberry (but not jam) and oodles of iron/blood/hot earth and some black pepper. Length is terrific, intensity is solid (perhaps in 9 cities) and there is just enough freshness and ripe tannin to hold it all in place. Whilst I should think of heavy cavalry, the sheer exuberance of this wine takes me to light cavalry, dashing Hussars, light Dragoons, Lancers, Chevau Legers etc. Jeb Dunnuck's forebear, Jeb Stuart was a dashing and skilled commander of light cavalry, the eyes and ears of General Lee. Like this wine he was dapper, fought with elan and had a strong identity. Pity about the whole fighting for slavery thing.
For the sake of absolute clarity, might I make it crystal clear that the good Dunnuck, as far as I know, shares nothing but a first name with Jeb Stuart and I know of absolutely nothing that makes me suspect he sympathises with the loathsome Confederacy. He does know his wine and for that I salute him and this wine.
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