2023 Cornas Chaillot

When I found Franck Balthazar in his garden, he was busy laying the concrete foundation for a new wall. In the cellar, we tasted through his Cornas range, sampling both the bottled 2022s and the unfinished 2023s. Among the former, the classy 2022 Cornas Chaillot stands out, with the 2022 Cornas Juliette not far behind. It's worth noting that Balthazar continues to use minimal sulfur in his winemaking. For example, the Cornas Chaillot doesn’t see any sulfur during vinification and maturation, with only 1.5 grams added just before bottling. Meanwhile, the Cornas Sans Soufre Ajouté doesn’t see any added sulfur at all. Balthazar’s wines are raw, expressive, fleshy and complex, but prospective buyers should ensure they’ve been shipped under proper conditions to preserve their stability. Approximately 70% of the production is exported.