Lionnet's wines are uncompromisingly honest and wild expressions of the northern Rhône.
Neal Rosenthal was introduced to Lionnet by his Côte-Rôtie producer, Bernard Levet. Levet is certainly a good jumping-off point for getting a sense of Lionnet's wines. Apparently, the Gonon brothers are also fans.
We've always admired Lionnet's wines, but some earlier vintages had a rustic edge that kept them from being ready for prime time. Without a doubt, that changed. Lionnet is making some of the best wines in Cornas.
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These are distinctly old-school in feel with a beautiful clarity and finesse. The combination of the wine's unadorned style and precise winemaking is compelling.
The 2020 offers up beautiful aromatics with depth, balance, and transparency. It delivers a rich cast of spice and floral notes with an energetic and mineral-tinged backbone. The wine feels steeped in crushed rock with notes of game, spice, and violets.
Lionnet's family has been growing grapes in Cornas since 1575 and they have some serious sites - Chaillot, Mazards (which is just below Reynards), Pied de la Vigne, and Combe. They follow the old school philosophy of blending sites, so granite dominated sites are combined with limestone ones. The result is a more finessed and gentler expression of Cornas than the bone-crushing style that people generally associate with the appellation.
There's no mistaking that quality at this domaine is on a major uptick. This is a serious, compelling, but accessible bottle of Cornas. When you factor in the value that it offers, there are few smarter bets in this appellation.
To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Joe Salamone
Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits
