Vincent Paris comes from a winemaking family, and his domaine is based around plots of 90 year old Syrah vines in Cornas planted by his grandfather. Shortly after he began making his own wines in 1997, his old vine wines were in so much demand that a few tiny plots of Cornas and St Joseph were not enough to satisfy the audience. This wine is the result, drawn from young vines in Crozes Hermitage on rocky soils, surrounded by wild forest. Vincent’s foremost concern in the vineyard is concentration of flavor, which he archives by dropping all but four clusters per vine, about half the usual amount. Delicate handling in the press and nine oak-free months in tank later, the Collines Rhodaniennes offers an uncomplicated but satisfying version of Syrah. Classic aromas of black olive tapenade, black raspberry, black pepper, and pipe smoke. The palate offers inky purple fruit, granite, and the herbs that grow in the cracks of granite boulders, with a strong tannic backbone to match effulgent acidity. This is an entry tier wine given all the care and attention of a cru, and it has much to say to your next barbecue menu.