Structure

Bodyfull
Tanninfirm
Acidityhigh
Sweetnessdry
Oaklarge or old casks

Drinking window

Best 6 to 18 years from vintage.
vintage6 yrs18 yrs20 yrs

Critic scores

No critic score is published for this bottle that we can cite with a reviewer, a vintage and a review year, so none is shown. The rating in the header is our own.

In the glass

Full-bodiedFirm tanninHigh acidityDryLong, Iron-Tinged And Savoury finish

Aroma: black olive, smoked meat, wild herbs, dark plum, granite

Palate: concentrated black fruit, iron mineral, rustic leather, firm tannins, long

Chapoutier's Cornas from the Les Arenes parcel on granite. Biodynamically farmed old Syrah with the smoky, iron-edged character that defines Cornas AOC.

What it pairs with

  • Grilled lamb sausage with tapenade
    Black olive and smoked meat in the wine resonate with grilled lamb and tapenade.
  • Braised wild duck
    Game bird with rich sauce needs the wine's iron mineral backbone.
  • Aged sheep's cheese
    The wine's rustic tannins are softened by crystalline sheep's-milk cheese.

How to serve Cornas Les Arenes

Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.

  1. Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
  2. Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
  3. Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass: the bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
  4. Pair with. Grilled lamb sausage with tapenade, Braised wild duck, Aged sheep's cheese. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.

History

Les Arenes is Chapoutier's single-parcel Cornas from the granite terraces of the village. Biodynamically farmed, it represents the house's interpretation of Cornas' historic granite-terroir character.

  1. 1991: First vintage of Les Arenes as Chapoutier's Cornas AOC selection

Facts

Producer
M. Chapoutier · visiting guide
Grapes
Syrah (100%)
Classification
Cornas AOC
Oak
18 months in used French oak demi-muids
ABV
13.5%
Price
EUR 55-80 at retail
Drinking window
6-18 from vintage
First vintage
1991
Biodynamic
Demeter Certified
Organic
ECOCERT

Frequently asked about Cornas Les Arenes

What does Cornas Les Arenes taste like?

On the nose, black olive, smoked meat, wild herbs, dark plum, granite. On the palate, concentrated black fruit, iron mineral, rustic leather, firm tannins, long. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long, iron-tinged and savoury finish. Chapoutier's Cornas from the Les Arenes parcel on granite. Biodynamically farmed old Syrah with the smoky, iron-edged character that defines Cornas AOC.

When should I drink Cornas Les Arenes?

Drink 6-18 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.

What food pairs with Cornas Les Arenes?

Grilled lamb sausage with tapenade is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Braised wild duck and Aged sheep's cheese. Black olive and smoked meat in the wine resonate with grilled lamb and tapenade.

What grapes are in Cornas Les Arenes?

The blend is Syrah (100%). The wine is classified as Cornas AOC.

Tags

biodynamic biodynamic certified cellar worthy dry firm tannin full body high acid mood bold mood rustic occasion cellar occasion dinner party old vines old world organic pairs with aged cheese pairs with game pairs with red meat price premium single vineyard still red syrah

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