2017 Thierry Allemand, Cornas, Reynard

Thierry Allemand’s Cornas Reynard emerges from old Syrah vines rooted in the intensely granitic, south-facing slopes of this storied lieu-dit, farmed organically to allow direct expression of its terroir. His unyielding approach centers on whole-cluster fermentation with native yeasts and extended aging in old demi-muids, foregoing new oak to achieve profound structural integrity and aromatic purity. The 2017 growing season, marked by a warm, early start and a late-August heat spike followed by September rains, yielded a vintage of both ripeness and retained freshness. This manifests in the Reynard as a wine of dense mid-palate, fine-grained tannins, and vibrant acidity, articulating the vintage's inherent power and elegance. The result is a profoundly structured and balanced expression of Cornas Syrah, bottled unfined and unfiltered.