THIERRY ALLEMAND CORNAS CUVEE R ROUGE 2023 - red

Style: Rocks & MineralsThierry Allemand did not come from a family with a history of winemaking, and was not fortunate enough to be the recipient of a family estate of vines as is the case with many other great French domaines. Allemand grew up in Cornas, surrounded by ancient vines, because his father, a factory worker, had settled there. Fascinated by the vineyards that were all around him, he developed a passion for the local wine that may have exceeded that of many of the vignerons! He started off as a cellar hand at Domaine Robert Michel, and worked there for over a decade, gaining a valuable understanding of the wine. Concurrently, in his spare time, he was cleaning up an abandoned vineyard which he had purchased in 1981.1992 was the year that things began to shine and marked the beginning of the quality and style of his wines as we know them now. His attention to detail improves every year to the point where he is now considered without argument as one of the greatest wine producers in the Rhone Valley and a global reference point of Syrah. Thierry's wines are also insider wines - I suspect most of them are consumed by the wine trade - his wines produced naturally in the same way and with equal precision as Domaine Gramenon, Philippe Pacalet or Jean Foillard and similarly just a small dose of sulphur is added to his wines at bottling to stabilise the wine. Thierry has perfected his winemaking into an art. ANDREW GUARD, ImporterComing mostly from older vines in the Reynard lieu-dit, the 2023 Cornas Reynard is darker and more mineral-driven, offering loads of violets, cassis, and graphite aromatics. Full-bodied, balanced, and serious on the palate, it delivers incredible purity and finesse, with a finish that won't quit. This is a profound, age-worthy Cornas that's probably the Cornas of the vintage. I'm always amazed how this estate marries the inherent wildness of Syrah grown on this steep, granite slope with incredible finesse and elegance, which I think is the hallmark of Allemand. JEB DUNNUCKRegion: Rhöne Valley, FRANCEVariety: ShirazABV: 13.5%Liquor Act 2007. It is against the law to sell or supply alcohol to, or to obtain alcohol on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years. Lic No. LIQP770016424 *We endeavour to ensure the correct vintage is displayed, however some variations may occur in store and for delivered bottles.