2020 Franck Balthazar, Cornas, Chaillot
Regular price$120
$120
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This wine has a per person limit. We do this as the wine is hard to find, very rare and/or incredibly sought after.
We do this to ensure that we are able to share the love with everyone!
We kindly ask that you do not abuse this limit by placing multiple orders. In the event that you place multiple orders - they will be canceled and subject to a 5% cancellation fee.
If you would like to request more than the allowable amount - we may be able to help - send us an email at info@thatcherswineconsulting.com
2020 Franck Balthazar, Cornas, Chaillot
Thatcher's Wine - Warehouse
Available same day if ordered by 2pm
25811 Clawiter Road
Hayward CA 94545
United States
+14152340046
How this estate remains off the radar for so many is a wonder - the Balthazar family has been crafting wines for nearly a century, the vines largely at least that old, with a further bump in quality when Franck purchased Noël Verset's ancient vineyard upon his retirement.
Franck Balthazar
A single-man production largely, the grapes are fermented whole-cluster, with some punching down and pumping over; the goal is purity of fruit, each vineyard plot vinified separately in large (600L) casks.
The Crozes-Hermitage comes from "younger" vines - about 40 years of age, and spends about 20 months in barrel. Long, spicy and complex.
Franck will bottle 3 different Cornas wines; first, the "Casimir" is a young plot of vines planted to granite soils, generating beautiful spice and length to the Syrah. He will create a Sans Soufre (no sulfur added) cuvée from similarly young vines, allowing for a wine that is effusive and ready to drink immediately. Finally, the big boy, Cornas Chaillot, from vines planted in 1911 and 1913...wow. This is the Verset plot which Franck ferments whole-cluster before moving the juice to the demi-muids for about 18 months. There is no new oak here at all!
Meet the Producer
Franck Balthazar
How this estate remains off the radar for so many is a wonder - the Balthazar family has been crafting wines for nearly a century, the vines largely at least that old, with a further bump in quality when Franck purchased Noël Verset's ancient vineyard upon his retirement.
A single-man production largely, the grapes are fermented whole-cluster, with some punching down and pumping over; the goal is purity of fruit, each vineyard plot vinified separately in large (600L) casks.
The Crozes-Hermitage comes from "younger" vines - about 40 years of age, and spends about 20 months in barrel. Long, spicy and complex.
Franck will bottle 3 different Cornas wines; first, the "Casimir" is a young plot of vines planted to granite soils, generating beautiful spice and length to the Syrah. He will create a Sans Soufre (no sulfur added) cuvée from similarly young vines, allowing for a wine that is effusive and ready to drink immediately. Finally, the big boy, Cornas Chaillot, from vines planted in 1911 and 1913...wow. This is the Verset plot which Franck ferments whole-cluster before moving the juice to the demi-muids for about 18 months. There is no new oak here at all!
Vinous
Vinous
97
Glass-staining ruby. Exotically perfumed black and blue fruit, incense and candied licorice scents, along with mineral, olive and exotic spice overtones. Seamless and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet lively blackberry, boysenberry, cherry-cola, salty olive and floral pastille flavors that show outstanding energy and mineral lift. Slow-building tannins grow on a strikingly long, focused finish that strongly echoes the licorice and mineral notes.
What the Critics are Saying
Vinous
Vinous
97
Glass-staining ruby. Exotically perfumed black and blue fruit, incense and candied licorice scents, along with mineral, olive and exotic spice overtones. Seamless and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet lively blackberry, boysenberry, cherry-cola, salty olive and floral pastille flavors that show outstanding energy and mineral lift. Slow-building tannins grow on a strikingly long, focused finish that strongly echoes the licorice and mineral notes.