The 2023 Grosjean Cornalin Vigne Rovettaz is a single-variety Cornalin from Italy’s Vallée d’Aoste DOC, made by the historic Grosjean family estate, whose vine-growing in the Aosta Valley dates back to the early 1600s. The fruit comes from the Rovettaz cru in the village of Quart: a small, steep, south-facing site (about half a hectare) on sandy, glacial moraine soils. In the cellar, the wine is destemmed and fermented spontaneously in 42-hectoliter tronconic wooden vats over roughly two weeks, then aged for about eight months in large casks (foudres).

In the glass, this is a mountain red that aims for ripeness and texture without losing energy. The estate and merchants describe the style as centered on red cherry fruit with a subtly herbaceous edge, “full-bodied and lively,” with “soft tannins” and a “mineral finish,” and they position it as a wine “built for aging.”

Critically, it has already landed an excellent review from Vinous. Antonio Galloni scored the 2023 at 94 points, calling it “plush and seductive,” with “soft contours” and a flavor set that runs through “dark-hued fruit, spice, licorice, tobacco, [and] blood orange,” plus “a healthy kick of French oak.” He adds that the wine is “exceptionally vivid and delicious,” and while he notes, “I do wonder how much nuance the strong oak is covering,” he ultimately concludes, “Even so, this is irresistible.” That combination—clear fruit richness, layered savory accents, and noticeable oak influence—sets expectations well: this is a Cornalin with immediate appeal and depth, but also enough structure and freshness to justify time in bottle.

Wine Spectator has also published a review (score not visible in the available excerpt), describing it as “Rich and on the meaty side,” evoking “cherry” and “blackberry,” underscoring the wine’s ripe-fruited, savory-leaning profile.