Is Thierry Allemand the man or what?

Had the 1999 Cornas "Chaillot" which is the young vines cuvee and this wine was absurdly good and absurdly young. Not the best choice for a hot summer night but nonetheless I drank it up with an old friend. Upon opening the nose was the essence of concentrated Syrah fruit. Dark evil black berries along with macerated black cherries. This was black as night in color and really reminded me of fresh blood which all good Syrah should. There were also aromas of dark flowers, some barnyard and intense minerals. The palate was concentrated as concentrated can be with huge tannins. Refined tannins though. As the evening progressed the wine opened up and it became a touch more civilized. It is amazing for a wine this big to have this much refinement and class. The nose was on point all night and was as I said earlier the essence of Syrah grown in Cornas. Black olive aromas developed which only added to the dazzling nose.

I loved this wine but drank it way too young as it became difficult to drink without food because it was so big. As I get older it gets harder and harder for me to drink big wines. Not that this was big like some Roenfeldt Road stuff or Saxum which you would have to hold a gun to my head to drink . . .and it would take me a second of serious contemplation . ..but eventually I would hold my nose and swallow . ..it was big as in young big. Food covers up the hugeness of the tannins and the glycerin integrated with the meat I was eating but on it's own after aeration it was tough. Age would smooth this out and put this wine in proper balance but it is hard for me to drink young brash, mean evil wine like this.

Thierry Allemand is the man though and you should all check this stuff out young and old. He also makes a magnificent old vines cuvee called Reynard and if you are really cool and can find it his sans soufre cuvee is an amazing wine that has no added S02.