Franck Balthazar is the man currently holding the keys to the Northern Rhône’s most historic dirt, and for the collector community, this is the moment we’ve been waiting for. While Thierry Allemand’s name carries the weight of a legend and the price tag of a small inheritance, the real energy in the region has shifted toward Balthazar’s cellar. He isn’t just "another" producer; as the biological and spiritual successor to the late, great Noël Verset, Franck inherited a 100-year-old lineage of Syrah that has been farmed by hand and horse for generations.
Often referred to as the "Holy Grail" of the cellar, "Cuvée Hommage" is a microscopic production from the very oldest vines within the Chaillot vineyard, planted in 1914. This rarity is so limited that it is seldom seen on retail shelves in the United States. It represents the pinnacle of Franck Balthazar’s work, marrying ancient vine depth with unparalleled precision.
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Tasting Note: A rare, high-toned, and complex Syrah from century-old vines, offering a singular and deeply soulful "soil-to-glass" experience.
Critical Acclaim:
94 Points, Vinous Media: The complex 2023 Cornas Chaillot Cuvée Hommage glows instantly with delicate, ripe blackberry, graphite, orange peel, dried violets and stemmy accents. Mid-range but almost full in feel, round and loaded with fresh verve, the 2023 is such a gorgeous Cornas from the talented Franck Balthazar, leading the palate to the finish with such delicacy.
