2019 Thierry Allemand, Cornas, Chaillot - Magnum

Thierry Allemand’s viticulture is defined by intensive manual labor on the steep, non-mechanizable terraces of Cornas, where he employs organic principles and 100% whole-cluster fermentation without the use of new oak. This Chaillot cuvée is sourced from the decomposed granite (*gore*) soils of the lower slopes, a site known for producing Syrah with distinct mineral clarity and a more refined tannin profile than the neighboring Reynard. The 2019 growing season, characterized by high thermal accumulation and drought conditions, resulted in berries with thick skins and concentrated sugars, yet Allemand successfully preserved the requisite acidity to balance the vintage’s natural density. On the palate, the wine exhibits significant phenolic weight and architectural, fine-grained tannins that provide a sturdy framework for long-term development in the magnum format. The structural result is a Cornas of immense verticality and nerve, where the ripeness of the vintage is channeled through a precise, saline-etched finish.