Thierry Allemand - Cornas 'Chaillot' 2022

Like the Sleeping Beauty of the Northern Rhône, the appellation Cornas is at last awaking from a long slumber. Though these were wines once celebrated by Charlemagne, they have been regarded as the red-headed stepchild of the Northern Rhône for the last hundred years. Hard, tannic wines from the large négociants have given the appellation a bad reputation, and the rough, crumbling terraces lining the banks on this patch of the river have crippled even the most robust vignerons. In the early twentieth century, many vineyards here had already fallen into disrepair. By the 1980s, a slow insurgency of passionate winemakers started to resuscitate the vineyards, with Thierry Allemand deep in the fray. Thierry was working at Domaine Robert Michel at the time. Young and eager, he was learning the trade secrets of terrace farming, pruning, grafting techniques, and noninterventionist winemaking. Little by little, he began acquiring vineyard parcels that had long since been abandoned, rescuing some, buying others, and renting the rest. Insufferable work as it was, he dove into the project courageously: he cleared over-taken vineyards of weeds and scrub brush, reinforced terraces, rebuilt walls, and replanted. All by hand. Though it took him fifteen years before he could afford to fully dedicate himself to his own domaine (he earned his living as an electrician!), the quiet, monastic Thierry Allemand had already become a legend.

The not-even-five hectares of land that he farms almost seem abundant when one considers the diversity and challenge that each parcel presents. Despite the critiques earned when Cornas was considered to be in decline, some claim that it possesses the best microclimates and the greatest terroirs of the Northern Rhône. Stacked onto the hills of the western bank of the Rhône River, the vines of Cornas enjoy maximum sun exposure, facing south by southeast. The slopes are composed of both limestone and granite, though Thierry’s parcels lie predominately upon sturdy, granite subsoil with some clay. The sun exposure of his vineyards are of particular note, as they are inclined to early ripeness. Thierry vinifies each parcel individually, bringing prestige and recognition back to even the smallest lieux-dits of Cornas. His commitment to minimal doses of sulfur dioxide puts him in the same school of thought as such renowned traditionalists as Marcel Lapierre (Beaujolais), Domaine Gramenon (Southern Rhône), and Domaine Léon Barral (Languedoc). The cult status that Thierry’s wines have achieved is well-earned praise for this quiet hero of Cornas.

“A fine-tuned, silky, refined and well-crafted Cornas from younger (under 40-year-old) vines and whole-cluster vinification. It expresses aromas of damson plums, dark cherries, warm spices and some wild herbs. It's medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Such delicacy to the dense core, with a silky, caressing feel and incredible purity, vitality and transparency. Very long, vibrant finish.” - 98 Points, James Suckling

“The 2022 Cornas Les Chaillots from Thierry Allemand was crafted by his son Théo using the same method as his father: 100% whole bunches, two to three days of carbon maceration and punching down instead of pumping over. Evoking a pure, delicate and gourmand bouquet of violet, mulberries and dark berries, it's medium to full-bodied, dense and firm with a crystalline, pure texture and an energetic, tense mid-palate framed by somewhat stringy tannins, typical of whole bunches. Concluding with a long, ethereal and floral finish, this is a superb wine.” - 95 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

"Coming from a mix of terroirs and slightly younger vines (which are not that young) brought up all in used barrels, the 2022 Cornas Chaillot offers up red, blue, and black fruits intermixed with graphite, crushed stone, violets, and pepper. Medium to full-bodied and gorgeously balanced on the palate, it shows a juicy, elegant, vibrant style with ultra-fine tannins, displaying remarkable precision and purity.” - 95 Points, Jeb Dunnuck

Producer: Thierry Allemand

Country: France

Region: Rhône Valley

Varietal: Syrah

Appellation: Cornas

Vintage: 2022

Size: 750ml