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.

The "Chaillot" is the flagship and heart of the domaine, featuring 100-year-old vines acquired directly from Franck's uncle, the legendary Noël Verset. As the definitive benchmark for the "Verset style" in the modern era, this is a profound and structured wine. It is born from the sun-drenched natural amphitheater of decomposed granite that defines Cornas' most primal terroir.  

• Tasting Note: A profound, structured, and deeply mineral Syrah that serves as the ultimate expression of historic Cornas terroir.  

Critical Acclaim:

96 Points, Jeb Dunnuck:

Much more structured and powerful, the 2023 Cornas Chaillot exhibits a quintessential Cornas style with red and black fruits, graphite, crushed stone, and violet notes on the nose. It has full-bodied richness, lots of tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It shows the sunny, sun-kissed style of the vintage and deserves 4-5 years of bottle age. It will see its 20th birthday in fine form. Drink 2030-2045.