🏰 The 2018 Domaine Courbis Cornas Champelrose is a powerful and elegant Syrah, boasting a full mouth bursting with violet and liquorice, fine tannins, and pure, juicy fruit, culminating in a finish reminiscent of white pepper and spices. This vintage, sourced from parcels at the foot of the slopes in the Champelrose lieu-dit, blends fruit from old vines planted in 1919 with younger plots, and is aged in 25% new oak. Despite a rainy spring, the vines were well-ventilated, leading to a sunny September harvest that produced wines with restrained alcohols and elegant structures. Expect classic Syrah aromas with great fruit purity and high tones, dark berry fruit, pepper, violets, and blue fruit. It offers a silky mouthfeel with good structure, and with a little patience, savory, bacon-y nuances will emerge beautifully. 🍴 This bold Cornas is a fantastic match for hearty and flavorful dishes. Classic pairings include deer, wild boar, hare, and other game, as well as lamb, duck, and rich cassoulet. For a luxurious experience, try it with braised Iberico pork cheeks or a perfectly grilled ribeye steak. It also surprisingly complements strong cheeses like Ossau Iraty and Bleu des Causses, and even dark chocolate or Black Forest gâteau for a unique dessert pairing. 🥂 Ideal for a robust dinner party, a cozy winter evening by the fireplace, or a gathering with fellow wine enthusiasts who appreciate powerful Rhône reds. It can be enjoyed now with a 2-3 hour decant, or cellared for 5-15 years to allow its full complexity to unfold. Serve at 15-16°C.