Franck Balthazar took over from his father in 2002 and—with the addition of century-old vines in Chaillot from his uncle Noël Verset, one of the best-known names in Cornas—has become an icon of the appellation’s best opportunities. The wines are vinified with whole clusters and aged mostly in large casks, and they find that just-right balance between fine tannin, complex fragrance, and moderate weight. The “Cuvée Casimir” Balthazar, an homage to his grandfather, shows surprising density for a young-vine wine. Black and blue fruit flavors dominate the entry and mid-palate with hints of black tea, cracked pepper, and cured meat. The fine-grained tannins allow for this Syrah to be extremely approachable now with a 30-45 minute decant. Outstanding clarity and depth for Franck's baseline effort.