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…
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
Delicious drinking Cornas that is still very young showing rich dark fruit, cassis, meat, pepper, licorice spice & violet
Delicious drinking Cornas that is still very young showing rich dark fruit, cassis, meat, pepper, licorice spice & violet
Jan 23rd, 2025
Dark, dark color. Savory. Earthy and mouth-filling. Not much discernible fruit.
Dark, dark color. Savory. Earthy and mouth-filling. Not much discernible fruit.
Jan 26th, 2019
The 2015 vintage is already showing beautifully straight from the barrel. Obviously young and from a hot year, this wine is explosive on the nose but still relatively subdued on oak and fruit, especially for its age. Savory, raspberry jammy, with a strong mineral structure and iron on the finish. Intense and beautiful.
The 2015 vintage is already showing beautifully straight from the barrel. Obviously young and from a hot year, this wine is explosive on the nose but still relatively subdued on oak and fruit, especially for its age. Savory, raspberry jammy, with a strong mineral structure and iron on the finish. Intense and beautiful.
Jun 24th, 2016