Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale 2017《ZTF267A》
Domaine Vincent Paris Cornas La Geynale 2012《ZTF267》
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Vincent Paris, a low-key middle-aged man and a native of Cornas, is arguably the region's hottest rising star.
If you haven't heard of him, you certainly have heard of Thierry Allemand, known as the "God of Cornas." Vincent and Thierry Allemand studied together, and they share a close relationship. Vincent's uncle, Robert Michel, was their mentor and a highly respected figure in his own right. Vincent's grandfather, Joseph Michel, was a legendary figure in Cornas, single-handedly propelling his son, Robert Michel, to the pinnacle of the Cornas wine industry.
With a distinguished background and a family rich in winemaking, Vincent, armed with this impressive background, coupled with his own talent and hard work, produced his first vintage under his uncle's guidance at the age of 23. In 2001, with his uncle's help, he established his own cellar and began his independent winemaking journey.
Vincent began cultivating in 1997 and now proudly owns eight hectares of land spanning the northern Rhône Valley. Some of it is situated on precariously steep hilltops overlooking the village itself. In fact, the numbers on his Granit cuvées refer to the slope they are grown on. His wines are uncorked and unfiltered, allowing the natural power of the vines and terroir to speak for itself. Boldly ambitious in his 20s, he went above and beyond expectations for Cornas, striving for freshness and refinement, combining power with elegance and finesse.
Region
Granit cuvées are grown on east-facing granite slopes and are primarily made from destemmed fruit. His renowned La Geynale is one of only two south-facing slopes in Cornas (the other is Reynard), benefiting from a particularly warm microclimate. Made from 100-year-old vines, this cuvée is fermented entirely with whole bunches; this results in a fragrance that matches its power. All of his Cornas wines are guaranteed to age extensively in the cellar.
This cuvée is made from Syrah, sourced from a plot of land near Valence on the right bank of the Rhône. Cornas boasts an ideal microclimate for cultivating the region's ancient Syrah vines, which grow in very poor soils on a rocky surface. The bunches are hand-harvested, destemmed, and crushed. Vinification then takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Extraction imparts a beautiful hue to the wine, with numerous periodic pumpings and macerations that can last nearly a month. The wine is then aged in new barrels, where malolactic fermentation takes place. It is bottled after 18 months of aging.
"Dominique and Laurent produce 5,000 bottles of this wine annually, and it's a wine that keeps exceptionally well. Vincent Paris, one of the most renowned Cornas experts, is a 'Cornas superstar,' producing some of the 'top wines of the appellation'" (Wine Advocate).
Paris is renowned for his ability to craft wines with exceptional fruit and intensity, which persist from their youth through their exceptionally long drinking window. The key here is that Domaine Vincent Paris has always been very moderately priced, so they represent some of the best value in the entire Rhône.
Rating
(2017)
Wine Enthusiast 97 pts
Le Geynale is the producer's flagship Cornas sourced from top vineyard sites and old vines. Black cherry and plum flavors are dense and potent but nuanced by violet perfume and layers of iron, graphite and dried herb. Ripe, integrated tannins are appealing already but this massively complex wine begs further cellar age. It should reward drinking through 2040, likely further.
Wine Advocate 95-97 pts
Vincent Paris's crowning achievement in 2017 is his 2017 Cornas la Geynale, which comes from 100-year-old vines on a parcel that faces due south. This is wild and woolly, boasting a wild ride of cracked pepper, blueberries, espresso and floral-herbal notes. Full-bodied and creamy-supple in texture on the mid-palate, it firms up on the long, long finish, ending with dusty tannins and plenty of grip.
Vinous 94 pts
Opaque ruby. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe cherry and black currant, along with suggestions of smoky bacon, tobacco and incense. Seamless and broad on the palate, offering sweet black and blue fruit preserve and floral pastille flavors given spine by a core of juicy acidity. Rich yet energetic in style, displaying youthfully gripping tannins and impressive finishing clarity and persistence. This is the only wine from the Paris cellar to be made entirely with whole clusters.
(2012)
Wine Advocate 95 pts
My favorite of the trio (but not by much), the 2012 Cornas la Geynale normally is not destemmed, but in this vintage, no stems were used. Coming from a single plot of 100-year-old vines near the bottom of the famed Reynard lieu-dit and aged 18 months in older barrels, it’s a rock-star Cornas that exhibits a black/purple color to go with a huge bouquet of pepper, meat juice, black currants, wild herbs and crushed rock. Fabulously concentrated, full-bodied, rich and with stunning purity, it will need short-term cellaring and keep for 15-20 years.
Vinous 93 pts
Vivid ruby. Intense aromas of cassis, blackberry, olive paste and floral pastilles, with a smoky mineral topnote. Pliant and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering vibrant dark berry liqueur flavors and an enlivening note of black pepper. Finishes long and spicy, with excellent focus and energy and dusty tannins that add shape and grip.
