WTN: 2000 Verset Cornas

As time went on, my father would occasionally draw an important lesson from his perusal of the accumulating disasters in the daily headlines -- or, in his later years, from the accumulation of disasters in his medical record:

"Drink the good stuff first."

Yesterday was a day to remember that advice, so Andrea and I ordered a pizza, and I dug around looking for a bottle that would be insane and extravagent to open with pizza, a real eff-you to the sense of proportion that's supposed to govern normal life. Aha! A 2000 Noël Verset Cornas did the trick nicely. And what a wine it was. The first glass was reticent, an animal that has taken its bloody kill back to its cave and is reluctant to come out. The second turned pretty and floral. The third deepened and became darker, earthier, full of olive. It was as if the bottle was intent on running through the full repertoire of expressions of Syrah, one at a time, just to prove that it had mastered them all.

It was just the thing.

Sorry re the disasters, but like your antidote.
Love the '00 Verset, opened my last bottle last year.
They used to be quite reasonable, now truly extravagant (my mantra was think what you paid, not what going for now)
Hope things get better.

Thanks, Dale -- l'm cautiously optimistic.

This was my last 2000 as well. I have a single bottle of the '99 left in the cellar, too. I'm pretty sure I only bought two of each vintage; I got them in 2003 at Kermit's store in Berkeley as part of a mixed case I shipped home to Chicago, for around $50 each, which felt like a lot then.* I didn't buy any of the later vintages.

I know Noël's last vintage was 2006, and that he died last year. What became of the estate?

*addendum: $50 still feels like a lot. Then, it felt extravagent.

Great note, Patchen. Thanks.

I, too, only have a stray bottle or two left.

There wasn't much left of the estate by the time he died. He had been selling pieces off for ages: Reynard to Allemand (1985), Sabarotte to Clape and Courbis (2001) (because the sale to Tardieu-Laurent was blocked), Chaillots to Balthazar (2005) (another of his nephews).

Thanks, Jeff, I didn't know that. I've had a couple of terrific Allemand Cornas, but not in a while; I should try to find some more at some point. And I think I've seen Balthazar's Cornas around here, but I've never had one.

[Jenise]

Patchen, [concerned look] I hope your optimism is rewarded. And I love your defiance. I'm trying to be more defiant. I'd rather end up with nothing than staring at a pile of great wine I can't drink, should it ever come to that, and I'm increasingly trying to make myself reach for, rather than around, certain bottles. But it's a constant reminder, and a hard habit to learn.

Thanks, Jeff, I didn't know that. I've had a couple of terrific Allemand Cornas, but not in a while; I should try to find some more at some point. And I think I've seen Balthazar's Cornas around here, but I've never had one.

Allemand's stuff is outstandingly good but very pricy now, too. Balthazar is good wine and still reasonably priced.