Domaine de Saint-Pierre Cornas AOP Paul Jaboulet Aîné

Cornas is the most powerful appellation in the northern Rhône — pure Syrah on granite, no blends, no compromises. Jaboulet's Domaine de Saint-Pierre shows why.

Paul Jaboulet Aîné has been one of the leading wineries in the Northern Rhône since 1834. The estate cultivates its own vineyards in Cornas, where the Syrah grapes develop a depth on weathered granite that is unattainable in shallower soils. Since the Frey family took over in 2006, there has been consistent investment in both the vineyard and the cellar.

In the glass, a deep purple with violet reflections. The nose reveals Morello cherry, ripe blackberry, and fresh herbs—thyme, a hint of lavender—accompanied by fine cedarwood. On the palate, dense and structured: firm, ripe tannins that have already developed a silky quality, supported by a cool acidity. The finish is long, spicy, with a mineral, granite-like echo.

• Dishes: Leg of lamb with rosemary, wild boar loin, aged Ossau-Iraty
• Temperature: 16–18 °C, preferably decant one hour beforehand
• Drinking window: now until 2030, with potential for more