Domaine Durand 2022 Cornas "Empreintes", Rhone Valley

Cornas is sometimes seen as the homely cousin in the Northern Rhone.  Not as perfumed as Cote-Rôtie nor as regal as Hermitage, Cornas is often described as rustic.  Jancis Robinson once dismissed the entire region (where would you put Clape, then?)  Grown at a 300-meter elevation, this Syrah is a sumptuous wine whose color is an almost blood-colored ruby.  While the aroma takes a little coaxing to unwind, in the mouth it is full and concentrated, packed with primary fruit flavors.  The small Cornas region doesn’t often offer wines of this pedigree at such an attractive price.