Northern Rhone Syrah and Cornas Offering... Balthazar 2022
Domaine Balthazar, Cornas
Franck Balthazar is a producer we have been working with for just over nine years. As tasty, complex, and purely Syrah wines they are, Franck's wines remain to fly way under the radar. This is impressive given his famous location in Cornas, home to the likes of Thierry Allemand and Auguste Clape. Franck even farms a parcel that is also shared with Allemand, the Cornas "Chaillot" his grandfather acquired from Noel Verset planted in 1914. Franck has worked to preserve the massale selection la Petite Syrah, whose small olive-shaped berries produce wines that deliver concentration and superior aromatic complexities.
Some history...
The Balthazar Domaine dates back to 1931, when it was founded by Franck’s grandfather Casimir. Rene (Franck's father) took charge in 1950 and followed his contemporaries Auguste Clape and Noel Verset into Domaine bottling on a small scale in the 1970s. All the while he continued to sell most of his wine in cask as Casimir and so many others of his generation had done for their local restaurants. Aside from bottling his own wines, Franck follows the same guidelines set before him by his father and grandfather. All vineyards are planted to the la Petite Syrah massale selections. Viticulture is organic and plowing is done with horse.
Vinification is traditional. His approach in the cellar includes whole cluster, native yeast fermentation in concrete vats with manual cap punch-downs. Wines are aged in old, neutral 600-liter demi-muid barrels before bottling without fining or filtration.
Two Textbook Cornas Cuvees
Franck’s flagship wine is the Chaillot bottling, from the fruit of century-old Petite Syrah vines that create a wine of stunning depth, concentration and complexity.
The other brilliant Cornas in his portfolio is the much smaller production Cuvee Casimir. Named in honor of Franck’s grandfather, it comes from two sources: the old vines in Les Mazards combined with the new plantings in Legre. Powerful yet elegant, it forms the perfect complement to the heroic Chaillot.
2022 Balthazar Cornas Chaillot - JS 95
"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." - James Suckling, 18 Apr, 2024
2022 Balthazar Cornas Cuvee Casmir - JS 94
"Very fresh wild blackberry, dry forest floor and wild herb aromas. Considering this was 100% whole-cluster fermented, the tannins are restrained, gently building at the long, moderately dry finish. Plenty of pepper and wild herb character in the finish. Should age well." - James Suckling, 18 Apr, 2024
Both wines reflect Cornas' terroir, but boast the character of Cornas enormously! Given the costs of these wines next to Clape or Allemand, here is a great focus on supreme quality at great value.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Nerd Alert-
Some of you might notice a non-vintage VDF Gringet in this offer. That is no mistake...
The late Dominique Belluard's sudden departure left his Domaine without an immediate successor to take over. Valerie Belluard decided to offer the Domaine up for sale after having taken the decision to not vinify the 2021 harvest. She was selective to keep the tradition alive as a grower Domaine, and not a Brand. Amongst the many young talents to apply, Vincent Ruiz, a 26 year old who had been working side by side with Franck Balthazar in Cornas for over four years, was the one to succeed.
With the arrival of the spring of 2022, and after months of back and forth from Cornas to Ayse, Vincent finally left the Rhone to relocate in the Arve valley and fully take charge of the vegetative cycle. At the same time, the choice of a new name for the Domaine was made. Induced by the incredible singularity of the grape variety at the heart of this whole adventure, the decision was somewhat obvious, and so Domaine du Gringet was born.
Due to the connection they have had working together, Vincent and Franck collaborated on a cuvee for Domaine Balthazar.
NV Balthazar Vin de France Gringet "L23"
Lovers of Belluard, Savoie, Domaine du Gringet, and/or Gringet wines should definitely not miss this unicorn bottling, especially at the "no-brainer" price.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Favor quality but not inflated costs of premium wines, this may be the offer for you.
Grab some of these legendary bottles today before they fall of THE LIST.
Orders which include wines marked PRE-ARRIVAL that are combined with in stock items will be available for shipping/collection once all items have arrived at our warehouse. Minimum purchase per order is 3 bottles. If you place an order it may be held for more favorable shipping weather. If you would like to discuss expedited shipping options just contact us. Orders are automatically insured for $100, you can add additional insurance at checkout. Automatically receive a discounted ground shipping rate when you order a full case of 12 bottles (mix and match - 750ml only). Shipping promotion not valid for combination with previous orders. Pricing for this offer only and not retroactive.
-The Bottle List