Cornas „Brise Cailloux“ 2022

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

Colour & Appearance

Intense, luminous purple – a wine that promises energy and depth from the moment it touches the glass.

Nose

What an introduction: The Brise Cailloux announces itself with an immediacy and precision that captivates instantly. Abundant red and dark fruits – raspberry, blackberry, plum, cherry – form the core, framed by floral notes of rose and violet. Beneath these shimmer seductive nuances of anise, verbena, white pepper and a hint of smoked ham. A whisper of blood orange sets an elegant, almost Mediterranean full stop. Wonderfully complex, yet never overwrought.

Palate

On the palate, the wine displays character and backbone. The fruit is juicy and direct, yet what truly distinguishes this Cornas is its unbridled freshness: a vibrant, precise acidity and a vibrating, almost saline minerality run through the wine from start to finish. The tannins are fine yet pronounced – firmly structured, without ever turning harsh. Lightly smoky, iodine-spiced notes lend the palate a piquant depth.

Finish

Long, fresh and persistent. The wine closes with spicy minerality and a pleasantly austere, invigorating aftertaste – not a weary fade, but a determined final word.

Terroir & Origin

Cornas, the most idiosyncratic and uncompromising appellation of the northern Rhône. Granite and gneiss define the steep hillsides and lend the wine its characteristic mineral tension. Two-thirds of the grapes come from younger plantings at the foot of the slope and in the mid-slope areas, one-third from older vines – an assemblage that ensures both freshness and depth.

Grape Variety & Vinification

100% Syrah, aged for 18 months in 10-hectolitre clay vessels and concrete. This combination preserves the purity of the fruit and the integrity of the terroir, without overwhelming the wine with oak – a deliberately artisanal, respectful vinification. With just 12.5% alcohol, the wine underscores its claim to elegance and drinkability.

Food Pairing Suggestions

An ideal companion to braised lamb with Provençal herbs, wild boar ragout or a classic Coq au Vin. This Cornas also makes an excellent match with aged Comté or a charcuterie board featuring robust terrines.

Special Characteristics

The Brise Cailloux – „stone breaker“ – lives up to its name: a wine that excels through freshness and precision where other Cornas rely on power and mass. Already a pleasure to drink today, with good ageing potential over the next 8–12 years.

„`