Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This wine redefines Cornas elegance. So much floral and fresh berry charm on the nose, yet so much mineral intensity and energy on the very focused, medium-bodied palate. The crystalline finish just doesn't want to stop.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Cornas Granit 30 shows beautifully, with both red and blue fruits as well as leafy herbs, spice, and exotic floral notes. Coming from the lower slopes near the village, it's medium to full-bodied, has a pure, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. 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. Barrel Sample: 91-93
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Decanter
This has a nice sense of freshness; there's a touch of roundness on the palate, the fruit is certainly ripe and the acidity quite marked. The Cornas tannins are present, giving a cleansing sensation on the tongue. Medium length, compact, ripe and juicy, this will drink well young. Almost all destemmed, perhaps 5% whole bunches. Tasted from a five-year-old barrel.
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Vinous
The 2023 Cornas Granit 30 is exquisite, unwinding with alluring rose water, blood orange, black cherry, licorice and stemmy subtleties. Round and refreshing, the 2023 is shaping up to be an accessible Cornas that’s packed with remarkable energy and freshness all the way through to the juicy finish.
Barrel Sample: 90-92 -
Wine Spectator
Shows classic Cornas muscle and aromatic character, with plum and smoked bacon notes revealing salty depth and energy. The tannins are nicely softened at the edges, while violet and lavender add beautiful floral lift. Cool stone minerality and white pepper course from start to finish. Elegant and serious. Drink now through 2040. 60 cases imported.
Marked by an unmistakable deep purple hue and savory aromatics, Syrah makes an intense, powerful and often age-worthy red. Native to the Northern Rhône, Syrah achieves its maximum potential in the steep village of Hermitage and plays an important component in the Red Rhône Blends of the south, adding color and structure to Grenache and Mourvèdre. Syrah is the most widely planted grape of Australia and is important in California and Washington. Sommelier Secret—Such a synergy these three create together, the Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre trio often takes on the shorthand term, “GSM.”
Distinguished as a fine Syrah producing zone since the 18th century, Cornas, like Cote Rotie, is made up of vineyards covering steep and hard-to-work, granite terraces. As a result the region’s wines fell out of favor during the mid 20th century when the global market was more focused on bulk wines and vineyards that yielded high quantities. It wasn’t until the 1980s when a group of energetic young winemakers reestablished the integrity of these precipitous terraces and also began making an ultra-modern style of Syrah. The new style didn’t need a decade before it was drinkable and could reach the consumer faster than the region’s traditional wines. Given the new quality coming out of the zone, its popularity once again soared and today a good Cornas can easily challenge many of those from Hermitage. Characteristics of Syrah from Cornas include teeth-staining flavors of blackberry jam, plum, pepper, violets, smoked game, charcoal, chalk dust and smoke.