Description

Country: France

Region: Cornas

Variety: Syrah

Terroir: southeast exposition; granite soils

Winemaking: practicing organic; 90% whole cluster at low temps; vinfied 2/3 in barrel and 1/3 in tank; aged in oak barrels for up to 12 months

Vincent Paris, whose first vintage was 1997, is as shy as his wines are bold. Vincent’s uncle is Robert Michel, one of Cornas’ finest growers. He made his two first wines with his uncle and then, seeking autonomy, rented facilities for the vinification of his most recent wines. He is in the process of building his own winemaking facilities with a courtyard that holds his apricot plantation.

Co-president of the appellation of Cornas with Jacques Lemencier, Vincent owns eight hectares of vineyards and produces about 2,500 cases per year, of which 1,600 are Cornas. He inherited most of his vines from his grandfather (some of which are 90 years old) and also rented, then purchased, vines from his uncle, including "Geynale" in the Cornas amphitheatre. They are located at different places primarily along the southeast facing Cornas slope and a small lot in Saint Joseph.

In the past decade, Vincent Paris has moved into the upper echelon of growers in one of France’s most celebrated red wine appellations.

-Polaner