INSIDER'S PICK: 2019 VINCENT PARIS SYRAH VDP COLLINES RHODANIENNES $19.99

At a time like this, it's pretty much impossible to be 'normal'. But it is important to try and keep what you can as close to normal as you can while you can. Even though we will not be doing the public tasting portion of the Insider's Pick until further notice, we will still be offering the wine for purchase with the usual 10% discount on Thursday and Friday. The wines will still be ones we highly recommend, and the tasting notes will still be our own. We hope you are able to come by and get some wines to enjoy.

It's hard to stop calling Vincent Paris a 'newcomer' in the Northern Rhone, as his label has over 20 vintages to its credit now. At his start he was part of a new generation of young vintners that has over time grown the reputation of the Cornas region from relative afterthought (in relation to the reputation of Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, and St. Joseph) into a name of great importance. With at least 60% of his production pulled from Cornas (and co-president of the appellation's board of vintners) they are still his primary focus, but we can tell a lot about his style from his more 'everyday' wines like this. Made from his youngest vines in his Crozes-Hermitage holdings and tank aged to promote a more approachable style, this really shows off the sneakily great quality of the 2019 vintage, which had some difficulties early on but finished excellent for quality growers.Dark-ish but not dense looking in the glass, it shows a lot of black cherry and cassis fruit on the nose, but picks up more and more smoked meats and olive/peppery tones as it opens up, classic Northern Rhone elements for those that are unfamiliar with cooler climate Syrah. On the palate the texture if full enough and tannins present enough to have it not be mistaken for a Pinot Noir, but for a youthful Syrah it's quite polished and approachable, with the fine tannins bringing a pit fruit and bitter almond tone to the savory finish. Unlike its bigger brothers, this doesn't need cellar time, just a bit of extra air to really get rolling, although it should last a handful of years if they linger in the cellar. Great for a rich savory soup, pot roasts, or lightly gamey dishes.

---