Cornas “Brise Cailloux” 2022

Wine Description for Cornas “Brise Cailloux” 2022 by Du Coulet

Colour & Appearance

Intense purple.

Nose

An immensely energetic and expressive Syrah. The opening reveals juicy fruit notes of raspberry, blackberry, plum and cherry, underlined by floral nuances of rose and violet. Ethereal accents of aniseed, lemon verbena and freshly grated blood orange zest combine with darker tones of pepper and slightly smoked ham.

Palate

On the palate, the wine presents itself with irrepressible freshness and astonishing lightness at a moderate 12.5% vol. A vibrant minerality and a race-giving acidity meet a fine-grained yet striking tannic structure. The aromatics remain juicy, subtly iodine-like and showcase a delicate, pleasantly bitter spice with a slightly smoky finish.

Finish

Extremely long-lasting, characterised by a cool structure, persistent spice and the pure fruit of the Syrah.

Terroir & Origin

The grapes originate from the Cornas appellation in the northern Rhône. Two-thirds are grown in younger parcels at the foot of the slope and in the mid-slope area of the coteaux, while one-third comes from older vines grown on steep terraces carved into the granite rock.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Syrah from Domaine du Coulet. Matthieu Barret consistently focuses on Demeter-certified biodynamic farming, yield reduction and working with mules in the vineyard. Fermented with wild yeasts and without barriques, this vintage matures for 14 to 18 months in diamond-shaped concrete tanks, clay vessels and amphorae. The wine is crafted without oenological additives, unsulphured during ageing, and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Food Pairings

Superb with braised lamb, classic roast beef, game dishes with a dark juniper sauce, or seared duck breast strips.

Special Features

Matthieu Barret’s radical rejection of oak in favour of concrete and clay exposes the uncompromising, granite-driven texture of the Syrah in its purest form.