Saint-Joseph "Les Côtes" 2018

VINCENT PARIS

Saint-Joseph "Les Côtes"
2018

Country
France
Regulated designation
Appellation origine controlée (AOC)
Region
Rhône Valley
Subregion
Northern Rhone
Appellation
Saint-Joseph
Varietal(s)
Syrah
Colour
Red
Sugar
Dry
Producer's website

About this winery

Vincent Paris has rapidly ascended to become one of the stars of the tiny Cornas appellation. Blessed with a collection of small parcel, old vine vineyards (some nearly 100 years of age) which he inherited from his grandfather, Vincent has turned out some of the most exciting wines in the region in the past decade. The praise for Paris’ wines is almost universal, drawing consistently top marks from the Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator and Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar. His wines...

See the VINCENT PARIS detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

From multiple parcels with varied exposure; vineyards in the village of Ardoix about 30 km north of Cornas in the central part of the appellation. Vines are 10-20 years old.

Production notes

The grapes were fermented at low temperatures. Vinfied 2/3 in barrel and 1/3 in tank; the wine is aged in oak barrels for up to 12 months.

Press reviews

Decanter

- 94 points -

Matt Walls, September 2019 (Vintage 2018)

This has lifted spicy aromas comprising cedar, cigar wrapper and star anise all over blackberry fruit. It’s medium-bodied with vivid black fruit on the palate and well-balanced acidity alongside grippy, strict tannins that are ample but not an excessive tannic weave. A long finish and better balanced and more precise than most in 2018. From 25-year-old Syrah planted on decomposed granite near Ardoix, north of Tournon, at 300m altitude. All destemmed, fermented with indigenous yeasts, then matured for 11 months, half in old barrels, half in stainless steel.

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The WIne Front

- 93 points -

Gary Walsh, (Vintage 2021)

No mistaking this for anything other than Northern Rhone! Incredibly vivid purple colour also of note. Fresh blackberry, charcuterie, black pepper, dried herbs and flowers. It’s medium-bodied, firm almost frisky ‘glassy’ acidity, smoky and meaty, crushed rocks, distinctly tangy, but encased in boysenberry and fresh picked blackberry. Vibrant. Tight and slate-y to close. You have to like them gamey and spicy, but excellent wine here, in that sort of style.

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James Suckling

- 92 points -

April 2023 (Vintage 2021)

A seductive nose of blueberries, freshly ground black pepper and violets. Medium body with sleek tannins and crisp acidity. Succulent with a sour cherry character on the palate and a fruity, juicy finish with peppery notes.

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Vinous

- 91 points -

April 2020 (Vintage 2018)

Deep, brilliant magenta. Mineral-driven scents of blackberry, cherry, violet and cracked pepper. Shows very good clarity and spicy lift, offering vibrant dark fruit and mineral qualities as well as deeper notes of black olive and licorice. The lively, focused finish repeats the spice and floral notes and is framed by supple, even tannins.

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Vinous

(91-93) POINTS

May 2020

Vibrant blackberry and cherry liqueur aromas are complicated by suggestions of cracked pepper, pungent flowers and smoked meat. Juicy black/blue fruit and allspice flavors show very good energy and become weightier with air while maintaining focus. Fine-grained tannins add framework to the spice- and floral-driven finish, which leaves a building mineral note behind.

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