The colour is deep purple. On the nose black cherries with a bit of blood. In the mouth juicy, with silky tannins. The aftertaste is fairly long and fruity.
Cornalin is the name given to two distinct, but related, red wine grape varieties from the Alps. One found in the Italian Aosta Valley: “Cornalin d’Aoste”, and one from the Swiss Canton of Valais: “Cornalin du Valais”. This wine is made with Cornalin du Valais grapes.
Traditionally known as Rouge du Pays, this old variety was renamed Cornalin in 1972, borrowing the name from the Aosta Valley variety, where it is originally from.
Cornalin du Valais is a natural cross between two varieties from Aosta Valley: Petit Rouge and Mayolet. The grape was probably introduced into the Swiss region a very long time ago via the Great St Bernard pass. It then disappeared from its valley of origin. Probably because it is a difficult grape with variable yields. It was on the edge of extinction in Switzerland as well, but the Swiss saved it and nowadays it has become the symbolic red wine grape of the Valais region, where it is exclusively grown.
What is called Cornalin in the Aoste Valley is likely the offspring of Cornalin du Valais and another (probably extinct) variety. In Valais Cornalin d’Aoste is called Humagne Rouge. Pretty confusing!
This exemplar is produced by Leukersonne winery. For this bottle I paid 29 CHF two years ago at the Vinothèque of the Château de Villa in Sierre.
Country: Switzerland
Region: Valais
Grapes: Cornalin
Type: Red
Vintage: 2016
Producer: Leukersonne
Price range: Premium (30-50 US$)
Pascal’s Enjoyment Index: 4/5