2017 Cornas Granit 60

An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes candied black/blue fruits, incense and exotic spices and flowers. Chewy, broad and gently sweet, offering palate-coating cherry, boysenberry and violet pastille flavors that are energized by smoky mineral and black pepper notes. Shows impressive energy for its heft and finishes very long and precise, with blue fruit and floral notes repeating on a long, smoke-tinged finish that's framed by slowly building tannins.

Similar colored, the 2017 Cornas Granit 60 comes from further up the slope and older vines. It offers a deeper, richer bouquet of black and blue fruits, smoked earth, violets, and ground pepper. Deep, full-bodied, thrillingly pure and elegant, yet still with classic Cornas density, power, and length, it's another gem of a wine from this incredibly talented winemaker. It’s important to understand the three Cornas cuvées from the young Vincent Paris. The Granite 30 is a younger vine cuvée from less steep hillside parcels (roughly 30 degrees), and it’s mostly destemmed and brought up in a mix of mostly used barrels. There are about 1,000 cases produced. The Granite 60 comes from older vines in the Patou, Les Mazards and Sauman lieux-dits, and steep slopes (60 degrees, which is where the cuvée gets its name). This cuvée sees some stem inclusion and a similar time in mostly used barrels. This cuvée is normally a solid step up in depth and quality over the Granite 30. Roughly 400 cases is a normal production level for this release. Lastly, the La Geynale comes from the oldest vines of the estate, which were planted in 1910 and are located in the Geynale and Reynard lieux-dit. This cuvée sees very little destemming and is aged in, again, mostly neutral barrels. This is always the most backward, classically styled release in the lineup and takes a few years to integrate its stems. Nevertheless, it’s an incredible Cornas.

Another terrific vintage of this wine, the 2017 Cornas Granit 60 features knockout aromas of crushed stone, blueberry and plum. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, with juicy, mouthwatering fruit complemented by firm tannins. Admirably clean and pure, it should require a couple of years of cellaring, then drink well for the next decade or so.