Notes From The Buyer’s Desk: A Can’t Miss Cornas

2013 Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 60

$37.95 – 93 VM

Having been in the fine and rare wine business for nearly 13 years, it’s not every day that I’m blown away by a new find. I’ve been fortunate to have tried some of the greatest bottles from the best wine producing regions on earth. That being said, I love trying new wines from regions that I typically do not focus on tasting. I recently noticed that we had several cases of 2013 Domaine Vincent Cornas “Granit 60” come into stock with a killer price, and that it somehow had passed under the radar of our sales team. It’s not often that I have the chance to grab a bottle like this before my team rips through our entire allocation! 

Before I opened the bottle, I decided to research the history of the domaine and region a bit more so that I could get a real feel for what we were working with. Domaine Vincent Paris is a relatively small producer located in the Northern Rhone appellation of Cornas with vineyards located upon steep granite cliffs. 2017 will mark the twentieth anniversary for the domaine, but don’t let the youth of the operation fool you; the quality of these wines is nearly on par with its close contemporaries, Auguste Clape and Thierry Allemand. Vincent Paris is officially on track to become the next legendary name in Cornas! 

Cornas is a tight knit region that combines the territorial restrictions of Champagne with the varietal restrictions of Brunello. In order to be labelled “Cornas” the wine must be made from 100% Syrah grown within the designated limits of the Cornas region. Production here is tiny. How tiny? The entire appellation of Cornas is around 90 hectares. Chateau Lafite in Bordeaux has over 100 hectares of vines planted. The entire annual production of the Cornas region is less than that of Chateau Lafite. Wow.

From these miniscule plots of land, Domaine Vincent Paris manages to produce five separate bottlings. The “Granit 60” comes from several vineyard plots that are situated on insane 60 degree slopes and contains vines that are an average of 60 years old. These conditions produce a terroir that is unlike anything else in the world. The granite gives the wine a racing, but well integrated minerality that I rarely see in a red wine. Knowing that this wine is 100% Syrah, I was worried it would be inky and jet black, but the wine emerges from the bottle a gorgeous, deep ruby color with a tinge of garnet on the edge. Today the 2013 is a bit young and requires some coaxing, but before long, aromas of dark fruit waft out of the glass with some hints of chocolate and berries. This is a wine that you will be grateful is not simply “pop and pour.” “Pop and explore” would be a more apt descriptor of how this wine is drinking today. Over the course of an hour, the nose changes dramatically as it opens up. The oak is present, but not overbearing at all and is extremely well-integrated. Across the palate, the wine starts off bright and very fruit forward, but the well defined layers don’t all emerge at once. “Fresh” is definitely the word that best describes this wine. Towards the end of the bottle, secondary nuances begin to emerge and the wine turns more rich and indulgent with dark chocolate notes, and a slightly peppery, almost effervescent finish. The minerality and freshness continue to shine through the light but noticeable tannins. If you have some extra-dark chocolate available, I highly recommend giving it a taste while enjoying the Granit 60.

As of today, we only have a handful of cases available and with a price of $37.95, I do not expect the Granit 60 to stick around in stock for very long. Do yourself a favor and pickup a few bottles of this unique, refreshing Syrah; I can guarantee you that you will not be disappointed!