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B-21 Top Recommendation
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"Vincent Paris continues to craft distinctive, age-worthy Cornas, as evidenced once again during my most recent visit..." - Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous
Our direct-import portfolio has taken some major steps in the past year and landed some big names, and now we can add Cornas icon Vincent Paris to that list. Thanks to some very fortuitous connections, we gained domaine-direct access to this perennial superstar producer and his benchmark wines. The outstanding 2023s have just landed in stock.
Made from Paris' younger parcels on 30% slopes (and now with vines almost 30 years old), the 96-point 2023 Granit 30 exhibits fantastic signature elements of its granitic soils, as well as Paris' ultrafine winemaker's touch. "This is always the most forward and approachable of Paris's cuvées and will put a smile on your face right out of the gate," declares Dunnuck. Paris' wines are renowned for their cellar potential, but that doesn't mean you can't pop and pour the Granit 30 tonight. After all, it's "an accessible Cornas that’s packed with remarkable energy and freshness all the way through," so stocking the cellar is an easy choice.
Next up, as the name suggests, the 97-point 2023 Granit 60 comes from three plots of old-vines on steep granite slopes, densely planted and low-yielding. Paris' winemaking methods are traditional yet meticulous, so he's able to showcase his prime terroir in crystal-clear fashion in each of his wines. There's tons of Cornas soul here, but the wines avoid the rustic, untamed nature that's sometimes associated with this appellation. Instead, we get ""a full-bodied 2023 that's beautifully balanced, elegant, and layered ... another smoking value from this incredibly talented vigneron." according to Dunnuck.
Finally, boasting serious press from prominent voices like Suckling, Dunnuck, and Vinous among others, the 98-point 2023 Geynale is an outstanding collectible proposition that ranks with the region's elite names. This magnificent showstopper, made from the oldest vines in two of Cornas' most prized sites, is "full-bodied on the palate, with ripe tannins, the classic, wild, sauvage character of the appellation, and a great finish," while Wine Spectator declares, "Massive in scale yet achieves perfect harmony between its ripeness, texture and energy."
We brought a staggering number of top-tier domaines into our direct-import fold in 2025, but Vincent Paris might just take the cake. These wines are built to age with incredible panache, so make room, stash a few away, and get ready to enjoy some of the most consistently excellent Northern Rhône Syrahs on the market. |
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Smoky and meaty, with intense wild herb character, this is classic Cornas, but with modern purity and precision. Giant concentration and brilliance on the very compact and still tightly wound, medium- to full-bodied palate. Extremely fine tannins. Even at this very early stage in the wine's life, the finish has tremendous spiciness. From a single parcel of 50-year-old vines. Drinkable now, but best from 2027.
98 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling (Apr 2025)
Beautiful nose, very lifted, with violets, black olive, blackberry and cassis. Has a good sense of fullness and ripeness on the palate – it's full, powerful, fresh and driving with a good, robust tannic frame and a long finish. It's not as massive as some years, but very well balanced. A Cornas with lovely finesse of fruit and enjoyably robust tannins. It doesn't have the concentration of the more powerful years, but it's still very good, and true to place. 100% whole bunches, no new oak.
96 points, Matt Walls, Decanter (Sep 2024)
The 2023 Cornas La Geynale is clearly a standout. Rocking levels of ripe red, blue, and black fruits, peppery herbs, violet, game, and rare meat-like aromatics all shine here, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with ripe tannins, the classic, wild, sauvage character of the appellation, and a great finish. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in used oak, it's going to need 4-6 years of bottle age, but it's beautiful.
94-96+ points, Jeb Dunnuck (May 2025)
The seductive, intricate perfume of the 2023 Cornas La Geynale suggests that what comes next will be a total delight. Hauntingly floral, the 2023 showcases prominent rose water, violet and orange blossom mixed with raspberry compote, licorice and a touch of graphite. Full-bodied, powerful and deep, the 2023 simply says, "Watch me." I will!
93-95 points, Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous (Jan 2025)
There’s a meaty, smoky, peppery edge to this salty, powerhouse Cornas. Massive in scale yet achieves perfect harmony between its ripeness, texture and energy. Juniper, black pepper, grilled garrigue and apple wood smoke play out over the persistent finish, held in check by fine-yet-muscular tannins and firming spine of iron. Excellent. Best from 2028 through 2040. 20 cases imported.
94 points, Kristen Bieler, Wine Spectator (Nov 2025)
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