Saint Joseph and Cornas 2012 - Tiny Allocations from the Northern Rhone's Newest Superstar Not that Vincent Paris is exactly a newcomer in the Northern Rhone - his first vintage was 1997, it's just that the wines have fairly recently been discovered by the press, somm's and consumers, and he is getting some well-deserved recognition. I first met Vincent Paris on a trip to France about ten years ago and I was immediately a convert. You could see there was great promise here after tasting, and knowing his connections in the region (his uncle is now-retired Robert Michel, arguably one of the best producers in Cornas), and I felt that the difficult road to creating a new domaine might be smoothed just a bit. Today he has an impressive estate of about six hectares, much of which he inherited from his grandfather including some parcels of 90+ year old vines, and a small parcel in Le Geynale, one of the top sites and source for one of his uncles best wines from vines planted in 1910 that he purchased in 2007. He rents two more hectares (some are 90+ year old vines) bringing the total to eight hectares. Today my predictions have proven true, and I have been happy to sell just about every vintage since then. At first the wines were totally under the radar, but in the intervening years he has been discovered by the press and the wines now have a very strong following driven by the exceptional scores and reviews. Good for M. Paris, but the now the wines are very much in demand and are highly allocated. Having been long-time supporters we still get a small amount each year, and are happy to offer the following from the outstanding 2012 vintage. More "Audrey Hepburn than Marilyn Monroe" as Simon Field MW observed after tasting last fall, but that focus and balance suits me just fine! The vintage has produced wines with plenty of concentration but also a good acidity and more depth and consistency across the board than in 2011. Yields were lower which will put some pressure on supply, but an overall excellent year and these wines are at the top of my list and I look forward to stocking my cellar with as much as I can afford! Just a word on the Northern Rhone from my perspective - it is no doubt my favorite place for the Syrah grape, but also one of my favorite wine regions period! Here on the border where continental meets Mediterranean climate, and the massif central and its slate, schist, and granite soils dramatically meet the Rhone river, Syrah can find some of its very best expressions. In the right hands Northern Rhone wines, whether it be Cote Rotie, Cornas or Crozes Hermitage, have an incredibly beautiful transparency and connection to their terroir, creating wines that can be almost Burgundian in their overall weight and delivery. Vincent Paris has become one of my favorite producers over the last decade and I think the wines have continually improved ever since I first tasted them. Not only is the quality there in every sense, but his wines are also very fairly priced! As far as these three wine in particular, all three display classic northern Rhone qualities, and each steps it up a notch in terms of depth, power, and in terms of their ideal drinking window with the Saint Joseph the most approachable, followed by Granit 30 and then to the bigger more structured and dense Granit 60. Buy a little of each and drink them in style over the next 10-12 years! Click here or scroll down to read more about each wine and purchase online. Cheers! Chris Saint Joseph 2012 $26 per bottle On Sale (reg $31) - A true bargain in Northern Rhone Syrah, this has classic black pepper, spice, cassis in a silky fairly approachable style. A wine that could be enjoyed now but would be better with 2-3 years in the cellar. Of the three wines this is perhaps the best value, delivering incredible classic northern Rhone character in a very affordable, early maturing and delicious package! Cornas Granit 30 2012 - $36.99 On Sale (reg $41) - This is from younger vines on gentler slopes ("Granit 30" refers to the granite soils and average gradient of the slope where the vines are grown, and approximate vine age), and is a bit more approachable and earlier maturing than the Granit 60. Best from 2015-2020. Limited! Cornas Granit 60 2012 - $54 On Sale (reg $60) - SOLD OUT - This is from older vines and steeper slopes, and has a bit more whole cluster (including stems in fermentation adding structure and tannin.) It is bigger, firmer, more concentrated and needs a few more years to really come into its own. Beautiful, dark, concentrated with cassis, black pepper, a bit more power and structure, minerality and depth than the Granit 30. Best from 2017-2022+. Very Limited!! To Order: Click on the links below for our secure website, call us at 908.953.0900 or reply to this email. Wines Arrive Friday March 7th. While supplies last. All orders subject to confirmation. Please provide payment and shipping or pickup information.
|
Powered by WineFetch | Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved • Terms • Privacy Policy |