Vincent Paris 'Granit 30' Cornas, Rhône Valley, France 2022
Domaine Vincent Paris founded 1997 when Vincent inherited 1 hectare of vines from grandfather marking beginning of successful career, native of Cornas mentored from young age by uncle Robert Michel (legendary Cornas vigneron who also employed and mentored Thierry Allemand) before Michel retired 2006, first two vintages 1997-1998 made with uncle before striking out independently, initially produced wine in small garage before moving to current facility 2001, 2006 uncle retired and offered prized vineyard parcels for sale sparking fierce bidding war among valley's greatest producers but chose to sell at discounted price to Vincent preserving family heritage and tradition, co-president of Cornas AOC appellation with Jacques Lemencier, domaine now comprises 10 hectares: 6.5 hectares Cornas, 1.5 hectares Saint-Joseph, plus 9 hectares Crozes-Hermitage for "Vincent Paris Selections" label, described by Jeb Dunnuck as "superstar of Cornas," produces three Cornas cuvées named for vineyard gradient slopes and vine ages: Granit 30 (entry-level but exceptional), Granit 60 (old vines steep slopes), and La Geynale (top cuvée from 1910 plantings), Granit 30 considered most forward and approachable offering in range showcasing modern elegant Cornas style.
- WINEMAKER: Vincent Paris FARMING: Certified Organic incorporating biodynamic principles, manual vineyard work and harvesting, prunes to only four bunches per vine (versus typical five to seven) concentrating growing power and reducing need for green harvest, no insecticides or chemical fertilizers
- VARIETY: 100% Syrah
- TERROIR: Cornas AOC, Northern Rhône Valley, lieu-dit Les Mazards, two east-facing parcels on lower slopes near village totaling 3 hectares, 30% gradient slope (hence "Granit 30" designation), vines 12-15 years average age planted by Paris, 300 meters elevation, granite-based soils with clay gravel and limestone, naturally warmer microclimate than other Northern Rhône appellations shaped by proximity to Rhône River and 11 streams providing essential moisture, steep granite hillside terraces facing southeast in natural amphitheater formation, 2022 vintage characterized by extreme heat and drought with blockages in ripening widespread around Cornas, resulted in concentrated wines with structure and complexity requiring extended cellar time
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested, 100% destemmed (fully destemmed), cold maceration at 12°C for one week preserving fruit purity and freshness, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in temperature-regulated vessels, pigeage (punch-downs) and remontage (pump-overs) performed twice daily, fermentation temperatures regulated during 21-day vinification process, tanks raised and saturated with CO2 morning and evening
- AGING: 3 months in stainless steel vats followed by 12 months in French oak barrels aged 2-8 years (no new wood), malolactic fermentation completed in barrels, cellar air-conditioned at 15°C, bottled beginning of December with light fining but no filtration, approximately 13% alcohol
- TASTING NOTES: Expressive and precise modern Cornas style, haunting nose of black forest berries with notes of dry forest floor and wild herbs, pulpy black cherries with bacon fat lardons, licorice and pepper, prominent black fruit aromatics paired with pencil shavings iodine and underlying rustiness, alluring rose water blood orange black cherry with stemmy subtleties, medium to full-bodied with restrained richness and youthful freshness creating vertical rather than broad profile, structured and concentrated with old-world savoriness, fine persistent tannins, mineral vibrancy on finish following succulence of mid-palate like coolness of evening following heat of day, invigorating and delightful rather than heavy or tiring
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled beef and red meats, game such as venison, wild boar civet braised in Cornas with creamy polenta and black truffle, roasted lamb with herbs de Provence, braised short ribs, aged hard cheeses such as Ossau-Iraty and Bleu des Causses, dark chocolate desserts
- SCORES: 96 James Suckling, 93 Vinous, 90-92 Burghound
Vincent Paris 'Granit 30' Cornas, Rhône Valley, France 2022
Domaine Vincent Paris founded 1997 when Vincent inherited 1 hectare of vines from grandfather marking beginning of successful career, native of Cornas mentored from young age by uncle Robert Michel (legendary Cornas vigneron who also employed and mentored Thierry Allemand) before Michel retired 2006, first two vintages 1997-1998 made with uncle before striking out independently, initially produced wine in small garage before moving to current facility 2001, 2006 uncle retired and offered prized vineyard parcels for sale sparking fierce bidding war among valley's greatest producers but chose to sell at discounted price to Vincent preserving family heritage and tradition, co-president of Cornas AOC appellation with Jacques Lemencier, domaine now comprises 10 hectares: 6.5 hectares Cornas, 1.5 hectares Saint-Joseph, plus 9 hectares Crozes-Hermitage for "Vincent Paris Selections" label, described by Jeb Dunnuck as "superstar of Cornas," produces three Cornas cuvées named for vineyard gradient slopes and vine ages: Granit 30 (entry-level but exceptional), Granit 60 (old vines steep slopes), and La Geynale (top cuvée from 1910 plantings), Granit 30 considered most forward and approachable offering in range showcasing modern elegant Cornas style.
- WINEMAKER: Vincent Paris FARMING: Certified Organic incorporating biodynamic principles, manual vineyard work and harvesting, prunes to only four bunches per vine (versus typical five to seven) concentrating growing power and reducing need for green harvest, no insecticides or chemical fertilizers
- VARIETY: 100% Syrah
- TERROIR: Cornas AOC, Northern Rhône Valley, lieu-dit Les Mazards, two east-facing parcels on lower slopes near village totaling 3 hectares, 30% gradient slope (hence "Granit 30" designation), vines 12-15 years average age planted by Paris, 300 meters elevation, granite-based soils with clay gravel and limestone, naturally warmer microclimate than other Northern Rhône appellations shaped by proximity to Rhône River and 11 streams providing essential moisture, steep granite hillside terraces facing southeast in natural amphitheater formation, 2022 vintage characterized by extreme heat and drought with blockages in ripening widespread around Cornas, resulted in concentrated wines with structure and complexity requiring extended cellar time
- VINIFICATION: Hand-harvested, 100% destemmed (fully destemmed), cold maceration at 12°C for one week preserving fruit purity and freshness, spontaneous fermentation with native yeasts in temperature-regulated vessels, pigeage (punch-downs) and remontage (pump-overs) performed twice daily, fermentation temperatures regulated during 21-day vinification process, tanks raised and saturated with CO2 morning and evening
- AGING: 3 months in stainless steel vats followed by 12 months in French oak barrels aged 2-8 years (no new wood), malolactic fermentation completed in barrels, cellar air-conditioned at 15°C, bottled beginning of December with light fining but no filtration, approximately 13% alcohol
- TASTING NOTES: Expressive and precise modern Cornas style, haunting nose of black forest berries with notes of dry forest floor and wild herbs, pulpy black cherries with bacon fat lardons, licorice and pepper, prominent black fruit aromatics paired with pencil shavings iodine and underlying rustiness, alluring rose water blood orange black cherry with stemmy subtleties, medium to full-bodied with restrained richness and youthful freshness creating vertical rather than broad profile, structured and concentrated with old-world savoriness, fine persistent tannins, mineral vibrancy on finish following succulence of mid-palate like coolness of evening following heat of day, invigorating and delightful rather than heavy or tiring
- FOOD PAIRINGS: Grilled beef and red meats, game such as venison, wild boar civet braised in Cornas with creamy polenta and black truffle, roasted lamb with herbs de Provence, braised short ribs, aged hard cheeses such as Ossau-Iraty and Bleu des Causses, dark chocolate desserts
- SCORES: 96 James Suckling, 93 Vinous, 90-92 Burghound