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Verset Cornas:
1999 & 2000 Mags
There's simply nothing like Noël Verset's Cornas.
They are the most mysterious, soulful and hauntingly elegant expressions of Cornas that you'll encounter.
If prices have soared in recent years, it's because people have come to terms with just how special these wines are and how fragile their history is. There will never be an expression of Cornas like Verset's.
After years of producing increasingly tiny quantities, Verset finally stopped producing wine altogether in 2006. The precious bottles that remain represent the last of some of the most magical expressions of Syrah.
I'm very happy to offer 750s of Verset 1999 Cornas and magnums of his 2000.
Needless to say, both are very limited. We've bought our share of Verset and this is the first time that we've landed mags.
Verset's 1999 and 2000 are two vintages that we have a lot of experience with. Shortly before Verset exploded and prices went vertical, we bought a few cases of both and drank more than we would have in hindsight. Both '99 and '00 are gorgeous examples of Verset. The 2000 is a little more finessed and light on its feet; the 1999 is a little bit denser, more powerful and longer.
Most importantly, both wines get to the beating heart of Verset delivering the wild, breathtaking complexity and elegance that make the wines one of a kind. For me, above all else, Verset is about aromatics, on the nose and on the palate. The '99 and '00 have this in spades. There's crushed rock, flowers, herbs, olives, game, etc. It covers such a spectrum and with such subtle depth that it's hard to put your finger on it. And that's a large part of the joy.
The low-tech honesty and immediacy is something that we love profoundly, and is simply inaccessible in this day. These are wines of one of the grand old wisemen who worked more on instinct and personal vision than anything else. These bottles serve as heart-breaking relics of a bygone era.
To order, reply to offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.
Ian McFadden
Director, Fine & Rare Wine
Crush Wine & Spirits