A bold, expressive Cornas from granite-rich slopes, this 100% Syrah offers a heady bouquet of cracked pepper, blackberries, dried flowers, and citrus zest. The 2019 vintage is ripe, juicy, and full-bodied, with polished tannins and layers of plum, clove, and crushed stone. A hedonistic yet structured wine with great ageing potential and a powerful, earthy finish.

JamesSuckling.com | JS 95
Published: May 21, 2021

Plenty of cracked-pepper and dark-berry aromas with some dried flowers as well. Then fresh flowers and dried citrus. Full and flavorful with a beautiful center palate of blackberries and cloves. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

The Wine Advocate | RP 92
Published: Jan 20, 2022
Drink: 2022-2035

The full-bodied 2019 Cornas Domaine de Saint Pierre delivers attractive notes of mixed plums and crushed stone. Not overly rich or concentrated, it looks to be an early-maturing Cornas, with silky tannins framing a lingering finish. 

Between my hectic schedule of visits and Caroline Frey's racing around to direct harvesting in Switzerland, Burgundy, the Rhône and Bordeaux, we were unable to connect in person this year. She deputized Robin Jullian, a former cellar hand turned export manager, to taste through the wines with me.

The style of the white wines has changed somewhat, although Jullian pointed out that they're actually more like they would have been in the distant past. Picking dates appear to have been moved forward, and the wines are seeing much less oak than in recent history. The 2020 Hermitage Le Chevalier de Sterimberg, for example, is completely unoaked, aged exclusively in concrete. I confess I had some difficulties grappling with this, writing in my notes at one point, "Nothing resembling Hermitage as we understand it."

The reds were more consistent with my expectations, with the 2019s looking particularly strong and cellar-worthy here, and the 2020s (from barrel) being softer and more elegant.

Jaboulet.com

By contrast to the majestic and somewhat introverted 2018 vintage of this lusty Cornas, this 2019 is a rather flamboyant soul. With one of the most sonorous and attractive Cornas perfumes I have had the pleasure of enjoying, this is a remarkably open and expressive wine. It is all the more thrilling to announce that the palate continues in the same vein. Bold, juicy, dark and ripe, this is a hedonistic roller-coaster of flavour and only right at the finish does the trademark granitic, gruff, Cornas earth makes itself heard by slowly rolling pagan herb and spice notes, buttressed by cheek-sucking acidity and elemental tannins into view. This 2019 vintage is, without doubt, my favourite Saint Pierre to date and it means that I can, at last, add Jaboulet to the pantheon of great Cornas domaines.

Brand Description: Paul Jaboulet Aine, crown jewel of the Rhone Valley and one of the most highly anticipated releases of the Rhone En Primeur campaign is finally here with another sensational vintage. Since taking over the estate as an oenologist in 2006, Caroline Frey?s meticulous care and attention to quality in the vineyard, aided by a steady shift to organics and biodynamics, has led the once-struggling estate to a tremendous return to form in recent years, spearheading a renaissance that has seen the return of world class winemaking and critical acclaim to one of the great estates of the Rhone Valley. The Frey family's revival of the estate has culminated in two consecutive stellar vintages, 2018 and now 2019, a testament to its prowess and reputation.

Vintage: Based on early reviews, the 2019 vintage is set to put its recent predecessors, even the formidable 2018 vintage, in the shade. Matthew Jukes has found the flagship Hermitage La Chapelle 2019 to be quite literally off the scale at 20 points out of 20, comparing it to the sensational 1990, one of the greatest vintages of all time. With great ageing potential and quality that potentially trumps the phenomenal 2018 vintage, Paul Jaboulet Aine 2019 promises to be a stunning addition to the cellars of fine wine lovers and collectors. 2019 is a paradoxical year of extremes with an abnormally hot and dry growing season by historical standards that started off with pockets of spring hail and frost. Fortunately, temperatures were not excessive and well-timed and beneficial rains in late August and early September freshened the vineyards and kept the acidity levels sound. Despite the hot and rain-bereft year, 2019 produced wines with real freshness and detail, and many producers achieved a perfect ripeness that adds aromatic complexity to the wines.