God’s blood

People called it “God’s blood” because its better plots are located on abrupt slopes, cultivated for several centuries in cramped terraced.
Cornas and its "burned lands" – from its Celtic translation – is today one of these small corners in the world - only 100 hectares of vines -, which are able to make capsizing the greatest wine lovers’ heart, especially in the United States where the very dark wine’s reputation is continuously increasing.

Cornas has succeeded thanks to a fistful of producers, who like Thierry Allemand, banned the garage Cornas and preferred this refined “dark wine”, which has naturally aged long months in cellar. Alain Voge, Eric and Joël Durand, or the famous Chapoutier domain… Each one has his own “God’s blood” but they are put together by the same pureness.

Thierry Allemand has just expanded his domain thanks to completely confident Swiss investors. For ten years, this former technician acts, as he wants to, without any difficulties out of the vine work. His hectare and half consisted of two very nice plots - Chaillots and Reynards - produces Cornas wines with the Syrah grape variety (like the Côtes-Rôties), which has a worldwide reputation. However, to achieve this comfort and excellence level, this wine grower needed twenty years.

In the 1980s, he was brave and humble, when he planted the vines using a mechanical shovel to respect the old terraces whereas other people levelled off using a bulldozer preferring low grounds to higher hills.

2006, September 21 - © L'Express

Other information :
• Cornas
• Rhone Valley