Franck Balthazar
Chaillot Cornas Syrah
Cornas, Northern Rhône, Rhône, France
Since I sadly can’t buy a bunch of TAllemand Chaillot (or even more unfortunately, Reynard), this producer’s expression is one I’ve been waiting to try. Only recently found out he is Noël Verset’s nephew (which certainly helped in getting those old vines from Chaillot!)
Double decanted for an hour before consuming the first half from the bottle the following few hours. Gorgeous translucent red-purple in the glass. Aromatics are bright and expressive…potpurri, black pepper, dark berry fruits, and whole cluster/stems. The palate is crunchy and energetic with peppered blackberries, herbaceous whole-cluster spice, and savory minerals. Lingering finish with big grip. It presents as a “big” cool climate Syrah (if that makes sense), not a burly rustic Cornas. Absolutely delicious.
Second half was consumed the following day and the finish was a bit more finesse driven with all the flavors in balance. Drink now with a couple hours of air or hold a few more years. Now to try the Sans Soufre…
Since I sadly can’t buy a bunch of TAllemand Chaillot (or even more unfortunately, Reynard), this producer’s expression is one I’ve been waiting to try. Only recently found out he is Noël Verset’s nephew (which certainly helped in getting those old vines from Chaillot!)
Double decanted for an hour before consuming the first half from the bottle the following few hours. Gorgeous translucent red-purple in the glass. Aromatics are bright and expressive…potpurri, black pepper, dark berry fruits, and whole cluster/stems. The palate is crunchy and energetic with peppered blackberries, herbaceous whole-cluster spice, and savory minerals. Lingering finish with big grip. It presents as a “big” cool climate Syrah (if that makes sense), not a burly rustic Cornas. Absolutely delicious.
Second half was consumed the following day and the finish was a bit more finesse driven with all the flavors in balance. Drink now with a couple hours of air or hold a few more years. Now to try the Sans Soufre…
Great— but a baby. Revisit in 10
Great— but a baby. Revisit in 10
Jan 28th, 2025
Good but still a little more rugged than I hoped.
Good but still a little more rugged than I hoped.
Sep 9th, 2020
Violets, black olive, smoked meat, balanced acidity. Love this
Violets, black olive, smoked meat, balanced acidity. Love this
Apr 12th, 2020
Throwing lots of sediment already.
Throwing lots of sediment already.
Oct 25th, 20182006 vintage in 2018? The wine held up better than the cork, and it held up pretty good! A wisp of smoke and focused minerality. Color me in love.
2006 vintage in 2018? The wine held up better than the cork, and it held up pretty good! A wisp of smoke and focused minerality. Color me in love.
Mar 13th, 2018
1.5L were used as offering during the beef sacrament that took place at the annual meeting of the minds at The House of Prime (SF). Great depth and concentration while also offering lifting blue fruit and balanced acidity to support the feast of feasts.
1.5L were used as offering during the beef sacrament that took place at the annual meeting of the minds at The House of Prime (SF). Great depth and concentration while also offering lifting blue fruit and balanced acidity to support the feast of feasts.
Mar 5th, 2018
Inky ruby. Spicy, exotically perfumed aromas of cassis, cherry compote, potpourri and incense are complicated and lifted by a smoky mineral quality. Sappy, sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated but energetic bitter cherry, blueberry, olive and star anise flavors that deepen on the back half. The floral note comes back strong on a strikingly long, seamless, dark-fruit-driven finish that shows just a hint of harmonious tannins. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, Apr 2017)
Inky ruby. Spicy, exotically perfumed aromas of cassis, cherry compote, potpourri and incense are complicated and lifted by a smoky mineral quality. Sappy, sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering deeply concentrated but energetic bitter cherry, blueberry, olive and star anise flavors that deepen on the back half. The floral note comes back strong on a strikingly long, seamless, dark-fruit-driven finish that shows just a hint of harmonious tannins. (Josh Raynolds, Vinous, Apr 2017)
Oct 12th, 2017