Grape variety
Syrah
Ageing potential
10 to 15 years
Soil
Part of the vineyard is located on decomposing granite, known locally as “gore,” the other is on alluvial clay-limestone soil. This kind of soil produces powerful, meaty wines with good tannin. This type of granite also gives the wine power and a nice taut acidity. Parcels “Les Arènes” is a combination of several parcels growing on slopes in different early and late ripening areas which synthesize the best of Cornas: Les Reynards, Patou, Champelrose, Mazards, Les Côtes.
Harvest
The grapes are entirely hand-harvested
Vinification
Traditional, destemmed grapes. Fermentation lasts 10 days in concrete tanks, which results in a perfect polymerization of tannins. It is then followed by maceration lasting around 3 weeks.
Ageing
After vinification, the ageing process starts and lasts 14-16 months. 80% of the wine goes into oak barrels (100% French). The remaining 20% are aged in concrete tanks, which preserves the fruit and minerality expressed on these granitic soils.
Tasting
“Les Arènes” is a beautiful example of the
Cornas appellation.
Colour: intense red colour with purple lights.
Nose: very ripe fruits, raspberry and blackcurrant
jams.
Palate: blackberries, spices, morello cherry.
Dense and tight tannins with a great
persistency in mouth.
