Every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. I'm going deep into my wine cellar to pull out the last of some very great bottles. I promise rare wines for the cellar- builder in very limited quantities, gems of astonishing quality carrying highly pedigreed labels that will tempt the most temperate among us.

Please note: these wines have been in temperature-control since they arrived from France.

The Northern Rhone is the Cote Rotie, Hermitage and Cornas is made from 100% Syrah grapes. It is one of Frances oldest vineyard sights. Many feel it produces the most complex and absolute best expression of Syrah in the world. The production in this area is very limited and the wines are truly world class. Alain Voge is without doubt in the very limited Pantheon of best Cornas producers.

Alain Voge's Cornas vieille vignes Wine Spectator Rated 92.
it also ranked Alain Voge's Cornas vieille vignes 2004 one of the "Top wines in the Northern Rhone for 2004" (and by far the least expensive on this list).

Here is the Robert Parker review of vielles vignes Rated 89+
"With the brilliant oenologist who worked for Michel Chapoutier for many years, Alberic Mazoyers, now firmly installed at Domaine Alain Voge, these wines are taking off in a spectacular manner (not that they weren't very impressive in previous vintages). The 2004 Cornas Les Vieilles Vignes displays a dark ruby/plum/purple color and soft cassis and blackberry notes with hints of roasted meats, sweet plums, licorice, smoke, and earth. It is soft, luscious, and ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years." Robert Parker The Wine Advocate

And another observation from Robert Parker: <.

"His (Voge) wines more than any grower's of this appellation, do indeed resemble fine Hermitage with their intense display of rich, smoky, black fruit."

Voge's second vineyard in Cornas is called Vielle Fountaines. This is a spectacular hillside sight with very old (over 60 years) vines. Here is the Parker review of the 2004:

Alain Voge Vielle FountaineRated 90 At Domaine Alain Voge, the wines are taking off in a spectacular manner (not that they weren't very impressive in previous vintages). The stunning 2004 Cornas Cuvee Vieilles Fontaines is certainly one of the few stars, a deep, full-bodied wine with an opaque ruby/purple color and a sweet nose of blackberry and cassis intermixed with truffle, scorched earth, smoke, and mineral. Full-bodied with great concentration, it is hard to believe this wine is a 2004, but that is the result of a combination of great winemaking together with a great site. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. Robert Parker)

Cornas across the Rhone but very near Hermitage only produces red wines made exclusively from the syrah grape. It is a very small appellation with only about 90 hectares planted. The vines are planted right over the top, which is over 300 metres high. The vines have excellent exposure to the sun. The soil is granite and limestone, a magical combination that allows for good drainage, combined with some clay that retains water during drought conditions that are not infrequent.

These vineyards are terraced and cut out of the steep slope that overlooks the Rhone River. Alain Voge owns 7 hectares in Cornas -- in all the right places. He has been bottling his wine since the 1950s and is the fourth generation to make wine. Alain's entire production is only about 2000 cases. Cornas Vieilles Vignes is made from 30+-year-old vines and aged for 18 months in oak barrels. The vielle fountaine is from much older vines average over 60 years with very low yields

Cornas is a very big wine and is not for sissies. This results from the fact that Cornas sits in a big dish-like geologic amphitheatre that protects it from the cooling and brutal mistral. The hot, nearly-baking syrah grapes produce juice that is often described as: virile, robust, earthy, black, tannic, brooding, and massive. These rare older vintage wines belong in your cellar. There is definitely some in mine Cynthia Hurley

Ordering is easy: Hit "Reply" and indicate your desired quantity.

The Details

Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Vignes 2004 1/2 case (6 bottles) $375, 12 bottle full case $699 Note: only 18 bottles left

Also very limited quantity available

Domaine Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Fountaine 2004 1/2 case (6 bottles) $450 12 bottle full case $850
RP , WS 93 "One of the top 10 wines of the Year" WS Note: only 36 bottles left

Mixed case 6 bottles of each. $799