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Domaine Cuchet-Beliando: 2018 Cornas

Domaine Cuchet-Beliando is a recent discovery for us. The domaine makes classic, old-school Cornas from old vines in the celebrated lieu-dit of Chaillot. The new release here is the promising 2018. It looks set to be in high demand among Northern Rhone aficionados.

Catherine Cuchet-Beliando, a descendant of the Jaboulet family, runs the domaine. It is a tiny operation, with just 3.5 hectares under vine. The vines are over 40 years old, and are planted in single plot in Chaillot. Here, in this rightly renowned vineyard, the steep south-facing slopes and decomposed granite soils give particular depth and vibrancy to the grapes.

The wines at Cuchet-Beliando were originally made by Robert Michel, tutor to the exemplary Thierry Allemand. Today, Michel’s trainee, Guilluame Gilles, makes the wines, harvesting by hand and fermenting whole bunches using native yeasts. After maturation in barrel, the wines are held back in bottle for several years before release, allowing the tannins to refine and complex flavours to develop. As some of the grapes are sold off on long term contracts, a maximum of only 120 cases are made each year.

The latest release from Cuchet-Beliando is the 2018. It comes from a very good year in the Northern Rhone. The season warm, giving ripe but not over-ripe grapes, and complex flavours.

This is an exciting new release from a producer that deserves to be better known. Fans of the Northern Rhone should not miss out.