Cornas

Auguste Clape, the guardian of Cornas's reputation through decades of neglect, has farmed his 4-hectare estate since 1955 and produces one of France's most consistent long-lived reds; his 1990 Cornas sold at auction for $800 per bottle in 2022.

Thierry Allemand's Reynard cuvée, from less than 2 hectares of old-vine Syrah on pure granite, is produced in quantities under 3,000 bottles; demand drives prices to $800–1,500 per bottle — comparable to northern Rhône's most celebrated wines.

Cornas sits in a geographical bowl surrounded by hills on three sides, creating a natural amphitheatre that traps sunlight and heat; the south-facing granite terraces heat to 50°C (122°F) on summer afternoons — extreme even by Rhône standards.

The Cornas appellation gained AOC status in 1938 but spent four decades as a source of bulk wine for Lyonnais restaurants; Clape's quality focus in the 1960s–80s, followed by recognition from Robert Parker, transformed its auction status.