M. Chapoutier Cornas Saint Pierre 2025

Saint Pierre is M. Chapoutier's Cornas, made from Syrah on the steep, sun-facing granite slopes of the northern Rhône. Cornas is a warm pocket within the cool north, its amphitheatre of decomposed granite holding heat and ripening Syrah fully while the poor, free-draining soil keeps yields low and the fruit concentrated. The terraces are worked by hand, and Chapoutier farms biodynamically, intervening only as far as needed so the terroir reads clearly. The wine is aged sixteen months in barrel, where slow oxygen exchange rounds the firm tannins and adds savoury depth without masking the fruit. The colour is deep. The nose is restrained at first, then opens to ripe red fruits, blueberry, dried fig, black pepper and smoke over leather and earth, the classic savoury profile of granite-grown Syrah. The palate is full and structured, with firm but ripe tannin, fresh acidity and a long, peppery, mineral finish that rewards patience. Serve at 16 to 18C, decanting an hour or more ahead; it suits roast and grilled red meats and game.