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B-21 Top Recommendation
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From a domaine with a devoted following among Northern Rhône fans yet seldom seen in the American market, this 2022 Cornas gem from Franck Balthazar offers a rare collectible opportunity.
"Balthazar's wines are raw, expressive, fleshy and complex..." - Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous
Known for their supremely old-school style, Balthazar's wines are in high demand and short supply among the most clued in Northern Rhône collectors. His meticulous yet minimalist techniques start in the vineyard, "one of the best managed in the appellation," according to Wine Advocate's Yohan Castaing, and continue in the cellar, resulting in some of the most authentic and true-to-place Cornas expressions you'll find. The 2022 Casimir, sourced from old vines in Les Mezards and early-2000s vines in Legre, is the flagship of Balthazar's domaine and the hallmark introduction to his style – "Medium to full-bodied, layered and textured, it's elegantly juicy with good depth at the core, structured, youthful tannins and a long, spicy finish ... an impressive effort," according to Castaing. We just sourced this limited parcel at must-see, best-in-market pricing, and given the scarcity of Balthazar's wines in the market, serious Rhône fans will want to put some away while they can. |
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Aromatically quite reductive when tasted, but on the palate this is very promising, with surprisingly rounded and succulent tannins for a 2022. Long, direct, fresh and focused, this is the most powerful of Franck Balthazar's Cornas this year. From a parcel of vines over 100 years old in lieu-dit Chaillots that previously belonged to Noël Verset.
97 points, Matt Walls, Decanter (Sep 2023)
The 2022 Cornas Chaillot is a brilliant showcase of Franck Balthazar’s capabilities. Revealing a dense, complex bouquet of dark wild berries, mulberries, blueberries, spices and flowers, it's full-bodied, dense and ample, seamless and layered with a racy character, capturing the energetic qualities of this prime hillside terroir to perfection and concluding with a long, saline finish. It's the king of the cellar that will improve with time in the cellar.
95 points, Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate (Mar 2025)
The dark, meaty and spicy nose pulls you into this powerful and deeply structured Cornas. The more air it gets, the more the wild herb character emerges, Serious concentration and a beautifully crafted tannin structure on the medium- to full-bodied palate. 100% whole-cluster fermented and matured in demi muid oak casks. Best from 2027.
95 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling (Apr 2024)
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