M Chapoutier Cornas 'Les Arènes' 2019

Some wines are made for long lunches and slow dinners.

I first explored M. Chapoutier's wines during a superb tasting dinner with Oxford University's Bacchus Wine Society, and it reinforced just how impressive the breadth and quality of the estate's portfolio is. This Cornas was one of the wines that stayed with me.

Now with a little bottle age, the 2019 has developed wonderful savoury complexity alongside its dark blackberry fruit. Notes of black pepper, smoked meat, leather and dried herbs give it real character, while the tannins have softened beautifully to create a wine that's both powerful and remarkably approachable.

It's a fantastic weekend bottle, offering everything I love about mature Northern Rhône Syrah at a price that makes opening it feel like an easy decision.

🎓 Masterclass attended