Alcohol: 14%
Grape(s): Syrah (Shiraz)
Localization: Cornas, Rhone Valley, France
Tasting Notes: Ancient vines, a near-perfect southern exposition and Paris's genius touch combine in his Cornas la Geynale, which merits serious consideration as wine of the vintage within the tiny Cornas appellation. Spectacular aromas of blueberries and cassis lead the way, garnished by hints of sage, bay leaf, licorice and crushed stone. Full-bodied and ripe, it's neither overly heavy nor rich, with an intriguing sense of weightlessness that easily carries that swirl of flavors through the long, silky finish.
97 Points James Suckling: Expressive nose of blackberries, cassis, black pepper, smoke and sweet spices. Medium body with finely-grained tannins and fresh acidity. Impressive volume on the mid-palate with a grainy texture. Balanced with restrained power. It’s concentrated and well-rounded. Long and focused finish with peppery notes. A reference for the appellation in this fresher vintage.
The Domain: Vincent Paris is a native of Cornas. He inherited most of his vines (some of which are 100 years old) from his grandfather and rents vines from his uncle, the legendary Cornas vigneron Robert Michel. The biodynamically farmed vines, located in various parcels along the southeast-facing Cornas slope, total approximately 17 hectares.
Vincent’s wines exhibit power yet possess a determined freshness to them. His famed Geynale parcel is comprised exclusively of old vines planted in 1910. Vincent Paris is undoubtedly one of the rising stars of the Rhône Valley.
Co-president of the appellation of Cornas with Jacques Lemencier, Vincent owns eight hectares of vineyards and produces about 2,500 cases per year, of which 1,600 are Cornas. He inherited most of his vines from his grandfather (some of which are 90 years old) and also rented, then purchased, vines from his uncle, including "Geynale" in the Cornas amphitheater. They are located at different places, primarily along the southeast-facing Cornas slope and a small lot in Saint Joseph.
Vincent is convinced that the forests surrounding the appellation must remain wild and uncultivated. He believes in protecting ecosystems to preserve the healthy balance of all vegetation, not only vines. He is meticulous in the vineyards and prunes to only four bunches of grapes per vine (the norm is between five and seven), which concentrates the vines' growing power and cuts down on the need for green harvests. In the cellar he ferments at relatively low temperatures and matures his wine in oak barrels for up to 12 months.
Vincent's "little wines" are a Syrah VdP and Crozes-Hermitage, which he began to produce in the hope of accommodating more clients after years of having no Saint Joseph or Cornas left to sell to new, interested customers. His Saint Joseph red is made from vines planted in the 1990s, and is vinified half in used barrel and half in tank. Next up are his Cornas Granit "30" and "60", designations that refer to the gradient slope of the vineyards. The Granit 30 is concentrated black fruit in a relatively “consumer friendly” style – perhaps a bit more Syrah-ish than Cornas-ish- whereas the 60 is classic Cornas: dense, with aromas of kidney and iron, and a terrific mineral underpinning. Last in the range is very small amount of Cornas "La Geynale", a blend of mostly Genale from the 1910 plantings he purchased from his uncle, along with 20-30% from neighboring Reynard. The addition of the "y" in Geynale is a nod to this unique blend.
In the past decade, Vincent Paris has moved into the upper echelon of growers in one of France's most celebrated red wine appellations. We are confident that we have yet to see his finest work!
