Are You Kidding Me?! The Sweet, Soulful 2016’s from Vincent Paris
Posted on: 05/2/18 7:30 PM
Style and substance go hand in hand with the Cornas “Granit 30“ from Northern Rhône superstar Vincent Paris. Loaded with sweetness and earth, the Granit 30 boasts a vital freshness, and more impressively, more importantly, exceptional balance. Year in and year out, “Granit 30” hits way, way above the asking price. 2016, as you may know already, is going to be akin to the Second Coming for Rhône geeks. “So far, 2016 looks like a classic vintage, with most growers favoring it over 2015,” reports Wine Spectator. “Reds are laden with fruit, yet extremely racy and fresh in feel … A truly rare vintage.” Spectator has rated 2016 at an unfathomable 96 to 99 points, the highest vintage ever scored since they began scoring in 1988.
Power and grace are the two key words for the 2016 version. You have the clear pronouncement of fruit (blue, black) but also the open velvety texture, signature (magical) intertwined mineral that all of the 2016’s carry. It’s ripe, for sure, but knee buckling in its awe and grace. You really can’t go wrong here.
2016 Vincent Paris Cornas ‘Granit 30’
“The 2016 Cornas Granit 30 had been blended and was in tank awaiting bottling during my visit. Medium to full-bodied, it’s already almost drinkable, showing attractive and classic notes of crushed stone, blood and cherries, reasonably supple tannins and charming blueberries on the finish.” 90 – 92 Points, Wine Advocate
More About the Wine
Vincent Paris is making some of the most exciting wines in Cornas. They race along with clear talent and ambition. They thrive in the gray area electrically lit by the tension between slick, rich fruit and bright, savory minerality. It’s a tremendous hook and the results speak for themselves: large, yet composed, big, yet balanced, and at their best moments, delightfully cerebral. Cornas has never been so, well, cool.
Granit 30 is not cerebral. But while it’s not brain candy, it still is sophisticated candy for the mouth. The fruit is deliciously sweet. It’s juicy. There are also roasted meats, herbs and earth. Most importantly, there is balance.
Hyper-gifted, ambitious, entrenched with some very good holdings in Cornas, Vincent has gained a considerable following by the press, sommeliers, and retailers worldwide. While Granit does not stem from particularly old or rare holdings the material is damn good, inhabiting a place that is both serious, yet ludicrously enjoyable. And the price is very friendly. It’s rare to find wine of such breed for such short money. Take note. After all, BBQ season is upon us!
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