From vines of over 100 years old grown on south facing granite soils. Some stemmy aromas bring fresh thyme, rosemary, star-anise and white pepper freshness to the aromatics, and a deep menthol coolness, an effect of not destemming. It is full-bodied, rich and concentrated in fruit with wonderful freshness. Very lively too, with citrus and berry acidity woven through the deep, juicy blackberry and damson fruit. A touch of crème de mûre on the palate, and some spicy notes on the finish. This is a relatively light Geynale in fruit, not as darkly-fruited as some years, nor quite as monolithic, but it's very well balanced and harmonious, surging with life and energy. The tannins are fresh, savoury and saline, and there is enough here to see the wine through into the long term. Complex and thrilling. Drinking Window: 2022 - 2036
Tasted by: Matt Walls (at En primeur tastings, Rhône, 09 Oct 2017)
Part of Best Rhône 2016 wines: The top scorers

(vines over 100 years old vines and no new oak) Brilliant purple. A complex, expansive bouquet evokes fresh black and blue fruits, Asian spices, incense, smoky minerals and olive paste. Deeply concentrated yet lively boysenberry, cherry pie, spicecake and bitter chocolate flavors are underscored by a building mineral quality. Shows a compelling blend of depth and litheness and finishes on a youthfully tannic note, displaying remarkable clarity and insistent mineral character. I don't think I have ever tasted as profound a wine as this one from Vincent Paris, who seems to be one of the most underrated and under-the-radar producers in the northern Rhône.

There are only about 3,000 bottles of the stunning 2016 Cornas la Geynale. Tasted from tank prior to bottling, it looks every bit the equal of the 2015—oozing with concentrated purple fruit and crushed stone but without that vintage’s massive tannins. The 100-year-old vines Paris works with at this site face south and achieved terrific ripeness, making the wine approachable relatively young.