Wine Advisor
Franck Balthazar, Cornas Chaillot 2022
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
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.
Reviewed by: Stuart Pigott
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.
Reviewed by: Nicolas Greinacher
Franck Balthazar fans will need to get their hands on the 2022 Cornas Chaillot, a full-bodied, concentrated and taut Syrah with pedigree and class. Vivid violet, ripe black fruit, licorice, cedar and stemmy elements are all pushed forward. Fleshy subtleties add more complexity. Rich, layered and very long, the 2022 Chaillot is a magnificent Cornas that will need at least four more years before it starts to unleash its full potential.
About the Producer
The Franck Balthazar estate is located in the Rhône Valley in France and is a renowned family-run winery. This estate is known for producing exceptional Champagne and red wines from the Rhône Valley. Franck Balthazar is a fifth-generation winemaker who has inherited the family's traditions and winemaking techniques. He is renowned for crafting high-quality, organic, and biodynamic wines using traditional, hands-on methods. The Franck Balthazar estate focuses on producing wines from the Syrah grape variety, taking full advantage of the region's unique terroir and vine-growing conditions. At the Franck Balthazar estate, they have a deep respect for the power of nature and traditional winemaking practices. They adhere to a natural winemaking philosophy, minimizing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides as much as possible and following celestial calendars to guide their vineyard work and winemaking processes. This commitment allows them to produce wines with distinct flavors and elegant structures. The wines from the Franck Balthazar estate are versatile and can be enjoyed on various occasions and paired with different cuisines. Their red wines are praised for their rich fruit aromas, graceful tannins, and long-lasting finish. Whether it's Asian cuisine, barbecue, or traditional French dishes, these wines offer excellent pairing choices.
