Cornas, Gore, 2009

From a part of the same vineyard used for Billes Noires, Arlettes. 40-year-old vines planted on very poor granite soils, where a very windy micro climate that makes for perennially low yields from tiny berries, are set apart and made separately in only the best vintages. An intense savoury and spice note strikes you immediately, wonderful flavours of rock salt, mineral, white pepper, saddle leather and dried herb mixed with thick satin-textured layers of cherry compote, bramble, raspberry and morello. Frighteningly concentrated and complex.