Equis Cornas 2016

Equis Cornas is a négociant Syrah from three granite parcels in Cornas, made by Maxime Graillot and Thomas Schmittel.

Cornas is the southernmost of the northern Rhône's red appellations, a small amphitheatre of steep granite terraces given over entirely to Syrah, and the wines are traditionally its densest and most tannic. Equis is the boutique négoce label of Maxime Graillot and his long-standing winemaking partner Thomas Schmittel, who buy from a roster of mature vineyards where they know the grower well. This cuvée comes from Elie Bancel, long known to the Graillot family: a quarter from a twenty-year-old plot on the slopes of the lieu-dit Les Chaillots, a quarter from thirty-five-year-old vines in La Sabarotte, and half from eighty- to ninety-year-old vines on the fifty per cent gradient of La Côte. All the sites are organically farmed. Roughly a quarter whole bunch is used, ageing includes some used 600-litre casks, and the wine is bottled unfiltered after an extra year.

Dense but pure-fruited, and worth five to ten years in the cellar; decant when young. Serve at 16-18°C with roast lamb, peppered beef or a hard mountain cheese.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.