Chaillot Cornas Syrah

Opened for a buddy’s birthday, alongside a 2005 Tatty Comtes, 2015 Cristal, 2018 Realm Falstaff and 2023 Kobayashi M/R.

I still remember my first Allemand seven years ago and how it immediately reeled me in and every bottle since has been the exact same. The rusticity and feral nature of Cornas is why for me, as a Syrah fanboy, it’s the best and most pure region for this wonderful grape.

Removed cork about an hour before pouring. Initial notes of olive, black pepper spice and herbs, some smoked meat and a brief blood-orange citrus aromatic. Deep red/black in the glass. There’s a layer of brett (low level, adds to the intrigue, doesn’t detract) and lavender bouquet before peppered strip, herbs, raspberries and blackberries, and a sanguine tang hit the palate. Not sure of whole cluster use here but seems there’s a little bit (which I love). Wild but civilized. Medium-plus bodied with beautiful acidity and plenty of tannin for this to cruise years. On the early side, but these are so hard to resist in every phase.

I wish I could drink this every day. I need to find a wine of similar style at a better price point.

Unlike 2012 Reynard which needs hours in the decanter to show, Chaillot is fabulous right off the bat. Always an amazing expression of Syrah. ❤️

This is gorgeous. A soft supple nose if roses, violets, blackcurrant fruit, iron. Complex and delicious. Great length. Lovely

From the younger vines Chaillot, which really, at the right time, can be equally as fabulous as Reynard in its own way, is brilliant tonight at age 10, entering the cusp of early maturity. Showing even better than the 13 Reynard I had just a month back, it captivates with distinctive Allemand aromas and a deep fruited profile, both black and red with olive tapenade, fresh violets and Provençal herbs along with its signature liquid rock minerality. The palate is pure velvet with killer concentration, caressing with each sip before giving way to lengthy, vibrant and mineral inflicted finish with silky smooth tannins. Damn I love these wines and 2012 Chaillot was particularly delicious tonight. 🙌🏻

A gorgeous rich nose of plum, pepper, iron, violets, roses, meat, leather, band aid. Round and clear in the midpalate. Salinity and savory notes. Really pretty and powerful. Young still

A lovely perfume nose with violets, some roses, dark cherry. On the palate good savory backbone with some dark sour plum flavors and real purity. Intense and quite long, this has a lot of life ahead

Vivacious, young and punchy on the nose. Fresh dark fruit with tangy herbal notes on top of one soured and lean, structured fruit. This is young but has great promise and never gets blowsy or over the top. Fantastic stuff

A haunting nose of smoke, earth and red fruit. Seamless in the mouth with multiple layers of complex flavors of dark & red fruit and olives. With air less minerally but greater fruit and olive flavors.

Fennel (anise), smoked meat and olive, stewed dark fruits and flinty notes.

This is good.