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Domaine Johann Michel
France - Rhone Valley

Johann Michel is a self-taught winemaker who discovered his passion while tasting old bottles of wine with his grandfather. His first vintage was 1997. He works alongside his wife Emmanuelle, farming a little over 5.5 hectares (13.5 acres) spread between three AOC’s:

johann tasting

  • 4 hectares are in Cornas, all farmed under "culture raisonnée" (sustainable method), in the lieux dits "Les Côtes", "Bayonnet", "Chaillot" and the parcel called "Saveaux" for the AOC Cornas. Yields are very low here – 33 hl/ha for Cornas Tradition and 25 hl/ha for Cuvee Jana. He also produces a special cuvée, only in certain years: “Cuvée de la Mère Michel”, a tribute to his wife & a play on the French song “La Mere Michelle”.
    AOC Cornas is one of the smallest AOC’s in France (only 155 hectares; 382 acres) with an average production of 61,000 cases per year for the entire appellation. 

  • 0.37 hectares in Saint Joseph AOC. Planted only with Syrah, Johann’s first vintage was 2016 with 700 bottles produced. The vineyard is 120 meters high in altitude with a density of the density of 4,400 vines per hectare. The Saint Joseph wine is made using 100% destemmed grapes.
    Saint Joseph AOC is quite large compared to Cornas AOC, with a total acreate around 920 hectares (2,270 acres). The quality of the soils can be very different from one part to the appellation to another part of the AOC.

  • 1 hectare in Saint Peray, planted with Marsanne and Roussanne. His parcels are located at the extreme South of the Saint Peray AOC (a few meters away from the border with the Cornas AOC). Johann makes 2 cuvées of Saint Peray: Saint Peray Blanc (a blend of 50% Roussanne and 50% Marsanne), and Saint Peray Blanc Cuvée M (100% Marsanne).

Reviews and News

Domaine Johann Michel Cornas - WA

Domaine Johann Michel Cornas - WA

wa300"Johann Michel continues to produce brilliant wines from the steep, granite infused slopes of Cornas. Both his 2012s, which I raved about last year, and his 2013s are some of the most successful in appellation. - Jeb Dunnuck"

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #216, December 2014)

Go To Johann Michel Cornas

 

Domaine Johann Michel Cornas - Issue 222 - December 2015 - WA

Domaine Johann Michel Cornas - Issue 222 - December 2015 - WA

wa300"One of the rising superstars in Cornas is without a doubt the young and incredibly talented Johann Michel. Creating the estate in 1997, he farms a little over four hectares (in the lieux-dits of Bayonnet, Les Côtes, Chaillots and Saveaux) all organically and makes a single St Péray and two Cornas: a classic Cornas and his flagship Cuvée Jana. The wines are all completely destemmed and aging occurs (on lees) in two- to four-year-old barrels. The wines show the more polished, elegant side to the appellation, have gorgeous purity of fruit, and never lack for texture and depth. They’re no-brainers well worth checking out. - Jeb Dunnuck"

- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (Issue #222, December 2015)

Go To Johann Michel Cornas

 

Producer Details
Founded
1997
Location
France
Wine Production Area
France - Rhone Valley - Cornas AOC, Saint-Joseph AOC, Saint-Peray AOC
Owners
Johann Michel
Winemaker
Johann Michel
Acreage
13.5 acres (5.5 hectares)
Grape Varietal(s)
Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne
Age of Vines
up to 40 years
Agricultural Practices
Sustainable
Annual Production
2,083 (9-liter cases)