Already bottled, the 2021 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes is a tiny production cuvée that comes from a single parcel of very old vines. It's more inward and reserved, with beautiful darker, almost blue fruits as well as some gamey meats, liquid violets, ground pepper, and obvious mineral-like aromas and flavors. Concentrated, medium to full-bodied, and beautifully balanced on the palate, it plays in the fresher, elegant style of the vintage yet has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It should benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and evolve gracefully over the following 10-15 years. It's impressive.

An elegant nose of steeped cherry and cassis is layered with dried bay leaf and rosemary, propped up by a wall of iron and iodine mineral. A leaner style in line with the vintage, this is sanguine and complex, with a lashing of salt. Best from 2025 through 2032. 1,400 cases made, 200 cases imported.

The 2021 Cornas Chapelle Saint-Pierre is the third rendition of this cuvée, following 2016 and 2018. Vinified from fully destemmed grapes grown on up to 35-year-old vines, it saw no new oak. Pronounced sour cherry and blackberry notes rise up from the glass. Wafts of pencil shavings and iodine add ferrous complexity. Medium-bodied at most, this is a polished and refreshing Cornas that won’t demand much time before coming around. Readers should note that no 2022 will be produced.