Vincent Paris, Granit 60 Cornas 2021

Variety: Syrah

Vincent Paris is an under the radar producer based in the northern Rhone with vineyards in Crozes-Hermitage and Cornas. With a famed uncle, Robert Michel, as one of Cornas’ best growers, Vincent worked under his uncle for a couple vintages before venturing out on his own. He has just eight hectares of vineyards and only produces 2500 cases annually. He makes both “little wines,” which include his entry level bottles. He began making these to attract new customers after consistently running out of his Cornas and St. Joseph wines. Vincent believes that keeping the forests surrounding the appellation should be wild to influence the integrity of the vineyard’s ecosystem. 

Granit 60 refers to the gradient of the slope of this Cornas vineyard, which is angled at a steep 60 degrees in granitic soils. The vines are older and yields are pruned down to four per vine, resulting in powerful fruit. Part of the fermentation is done with the whole cluster. Two thirds of the juice is vinified in barrel, the rest in steel. The ageing is done in oak for about twelve months.