Lionnet - Cornas

Click Here To Explore The Wines

The Lionnet Family has owned vineyards in Cornas since 1575. Corinne Lionnet took over the domaine after her father retirement in 2003, and with the help of her husband Ludovic Izerable who’s originally from Haute Savoie have been running the domaine since.

This small estate spans over five lieux dits for a total 3,8 hectares of which only 3 belongs to Cornas : Combes (a plot of very old vines located on the Southern part of Cornas with a mix of Granitic sands and clay.) ; Mazards (45 years old vines located just under lieux dit Chaillot) ; Pied la Vigne located north east of the appelation on clay and limestone terroirs planted mainly with old vines 50 to 70 years old) ; finally Chaillot at lieu-dit Le bois on Granit soils with a high level of decomposition.
More recently one hectare was planted in Saint-Pierre.  The estate also owns a single plot in Saint Joseph planted in 2008 with a Syrah and Roussanne in Lieu Dit Giraud, les Côtes at 300 meters of altitude on clay and limestone soils.

The Domaine converted to organic viticulture in 2003, and was fully certified by Ecocert since the vintage 2009. Ludovic follows the Lunar calendar for all viticultural and winemaking operations.

 



Winemaking

The grapes are hand-picked after a first severe sorting in the parcel, a slight crush is made directly in the harvest boxes in the vineyard, Ludovic has no fear from oxidation and wants to stimulate a quick start of the fermentation by feeding the indigenous yeast with the first juices. Pressing is made in a 150 years old wooden vertical press very slowly.
Fermentation is made with 100% whole cluster without addition of So2 and with indigenous yeasts only. The wines are pumped over and punched down by foot during the 20 days of vatting.
The wine is matured in used barrels and demi muids for 18-24 months. No new oak is used.
Bottling is made without fining or filtration and no collage is made during the ageing.

 

Wines

Cornas Pur Granit

Cornas Terres Brulees

Leave a comment

Please note: comments must be approved before they are published.