2020 Franck Balthazar "Chaillot" Cornas
Domaine Balthazar dates back to 1931 and was founded by Franck’s grandfather Casimir. Franck took over the estate in 2002 when his father René retired.
Franck produces all of his small production using methods little changed from those of his grandfather. The farming is organic and all vineyard work is by hand. The vineyards are plowed with a horse, which is extremely difficult considering some of the steep slopes he farms. Whole cluster fermentation is with wild yeasts in concrete vats. Aging is in stainless steel or old 600-liter barrels, depending on the cuvée. The wines are not fined or filtered and little or no sulfur is added. Franck produces some of the finest traditional wines in the Rhône.
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.
