The last time a northern Rhone Syrah scored 94 points from Wine Spectator and retailed for under $35 was in 1998. That wine was also a Cornas from Durand!

Brothers Eric and Joel Durand make exceptional wines, and relative to their more expensive neighbors their wines are incredible values too.

They don’t make much though. Just 100 cases were imported of this wine. We have 8 cases, don’t miss it!

Durand Premices Cornas 2018

Buy or more – pay $32.99 – US best price online!

Anything less – still $35.99 on sale

94 pts Wine Spectator / 94 pts Jeb Dunnuck

Make no mistake about it, Durand’s Premices is classic Cornas from excellent 2018 vintage in the northern Rhone. This is a full-bodied Syrah that’s built fall the long-haul. The tiny Cornas appellation to quote Jancis Robinson is “the stubborn country cousin to the noble Hermitage.” A top Cornas like this one offers all the intensity of and power of a great Hermitage, but at a fraction of the price of its more “noble” neighbour. Durand’s Premices is intoxicating. It bristles with crushed rocks and smoky minerals on the top of dark blackberry fruits. It’s a powerful wine with lots of intensity, yet it remains incredibly well-balanced with fine tannins and a seamless finish. Definitely pop a bottle now, give it an hour or two in the decanter to show all of its glory, but don’t forget to set some aside for several more years. This wine rewards patience. With age your Durand Cornas will evolve, violets and wild herbs will add intrigue to the nose, and the fruit will expands across the tongue too, and then there’s that melted chocolate goodness on the finish. Oh yes, I just talked myself into another six pack!  

“Solidly built, with ripe and vivid waves of crushed plum, blackberry and boysenberry fruit rolling through, laced with sweet bay and violet notes. Long twang of iron minerality pierces the finish to keep it all honest. Best from 2022 through 2036. 875 cases made, 100 cases imported.” – WS

"Starting with the 2018 Cornas Prémices, which can be thought of as the entry-level Cornas, it reveals a deep purple hue as well as stunning purity in its blue fruits, violets, ground pepper, and charred meat-like aromas and flavors. Rich and full-bodied, it has loads of fruit, silky tannins, and is just a killer Cornas to enjoy over the coming decade or so." JD

Arrives Tuesday. Supply is limited. Please reply to order.