100% Syrah from Cornas, Northern Rhône, France. Woman Winemaker. 94 pts: Vinous.

HISTORY: Emmanuelle Verset is the sixth generation to make wine in her family, and represents the E in Domaine A&E Verset. The A is for Alain, her father. She took over from him in 2016 at the age of 24, and is one of the few female winemakers in Cornas. The Verset name runs deep in this part of the Rhône. You might have heard of Noël Verset (1919 – 2015), whose bottles are highly sought-after today – Noël was Alain’s uncle.

ABOUT/VINIFICATION: Emmanuelle Verset has fully taken charge of this micro-estate from her father, Alain, and is producing a single, traditionally styled, unadorned and graceful Cornas that shows little in the way of rusticity, with polished tannins and plenty of floral, mineral and succulent herb character. The Versets’ Cornas holdings amount to a mere 1.3 hectares, but they sit in some of the appellation’s most prized sites – Reynard, La Côte, Mazards, Les Côtes and Champelrose. The Cornas is done with 100% whole clusters and sees only neutral oak.

TASTING NOTES: Shimmering ruby color. Mineral-accented Dark Berries, Smoked Meat and Licorice on the incisive nose, W/ Blackberry, Cola, Olive Brine, Soft Game, & Violet notes. Appealingly sweet Black Raspberry and Boysenberry flavors show fine delineation and pick up a sexy Floral nuance with air. Displays strong, energetic lift and mineral cut on the gently tannic, persistent finish, which features resonating floral and exotic spice notes.

FOOD PAIRING: This wine will pair beautifully with Grilled Meat & Poultry dishes, BBQ, Beef, Game, Lamb, Roast Poultry, Game Fowl, Olive Tapenade, and Aged Cheeses.