A Cornas...

Always a fan of Rhone wines, we had opportunity last month to take a sipping visit in.  Flew into Paris on the Friday morning for two nights of museums and decadent meals, a jumper night in Lyon, and then headed out via coach to the dreamed-of local, the valley of Burnt Earth, the Rhone-Cornas, where broad fields of Syrah grapes greeted us.

We checked in at the charming Citotel Cote Sud along the central line between Saint-Peray and Granges. The pilgramage was to the Jean-Luc Columbo tasting room at his Centre Oenologique des Cotes Du Rhone in town.  There an energetic lass took Maria and myself under her wing to educate us on the fineries of terrior.

My favorite was a Les Ruchets Cornas 2007, a ruby red concoction with a hint of a mulberry florals.  We tasted a few in selecting our own case for shipping home - ah, the decadent joys!

We also traveled for the day a bit down the road to Rasteau for some tasting, including a wonderful Cancarot 2009.  A night back to Paris and home again it was.

BB