2020 Domaine Durand 'Premices' Cornas Rhone Valley Shiraz

The Durand brothers, Eric and Joël, specialise in Shiraz, planted over 20 hectares in St-Joseph, St-Peray and Cornas. The vines are planted on steep hillsides and all work is carried out by hand, organically, on these granitic soil and rock. The winery is impeccably clean and modern, the brothers destem nearly all fruit, depending on the vintage. There is daily cap-plunging and pumping-over, the wine spends 12-15 months in 20% new 228 and 600.

“Juicy and youthfully compact, with a core of red and black currant fruit that will need a little time to unfurl. Boasts a backdrop of dried anise and sweet tapenade, along with a refined iron note and a nicely poised finish. 93” Wine Spectator

“Saturated violet. A fragrant bouquet, evokes, dark berries, cherry and pungent flowers, along with hints of botanical herbs and black pepper. Sappy and penetrating on the pallet, offering bitter cherry, black raspberry, candied violet and spicecake flavors, plus a touch of palatenumbing cracked pepper. Puts on weight with air and finishes very long and spicy, with repeating florality and steadily building tannins. 94.” Vinous, Josh Raynolds