Winemaker Notes
The name of this wine, "60", references the gradient slope of the vineyard. The wine comes from older vines. Ferments 33% whole cluster at low temps, vinfies 2/3 in barrel and 1/3 in tank. Aged in oak barrels for up to 12 months.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A dense, juicy, textural and lively Cornas with notes of sweet cherries, raspberries, wild herbs and baking spices. It's medium-bodied with fine tannins providing a silky texture to the succulent fruit. Bright center-palate that’s full of tension and spicy energy, with peppercorns, wild herbs and stones. Mineral and vivid with a long, precise and pure finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Cornas Granit 60 is similar to the Granit 30, only with more density and intensity. Black raspberries, cassis, spring flowers, graphite, and subtle spicy, meaty nuances all shine here, and it's a full-bodied 2023 that's beautifully balanced, elegant, and layered. Partially destemmed (70%) and aged in used oak, it's going to be another smoking value from this incredibly talented vigneron. Barrel Sample: 94-96.
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Vinous
Juicy grapefruit, orange blossom, red plum, fresh violet and stemmy nuances introduce the 2023 Cornas Granit 60. Rose petal and graphite add more complexity. Built around well-rounded tannins, the 2023 is a full-bodied, seductive Cornas that shines with outstanding purity, freshness and complexity.
Barrel Sample: 92-94 -
Wine Spectator
A seductive version, featuring licorice and spiced blackberry preserves with concentration and range. Violet perfume wafts through, while lashings of saline, smoked meat, tar and dried herbs make this equally savory. Richly styled and mouthfilling, with tannins nicely sculpted for a smooth feel. Drinking well now, but give this time in the cellar to fully reveal itself. Best from 2028 through 2040. 20 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.