TN: 2005 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard (France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas)

  • 2005 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (8/28/2009)
    Sheesh, this is freaking outstanding wine. Just shockingly good (not that I am surprised that Allemand is good but man this ROCKS). Smoke, lavender, gunpowder, blood, just a deep, meaty, enticing nose. While young, the aromatics just scream of the Northern Rhone. The palate is incredible, amazing balance, incredible acid interplay with the fruit and structure. Sweet and sour, some youthful grippiness yet ultimately just a gorgeous glass of Syrah. Wow. (96 pts.)

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Huh.
I got talked into buying a case of this for about $75 per, back a few years ago. Guess it’s gonna turn out to be an ok purchase!
Maybe it’s in the sweet spot around 2015?

Peter, you did great. This is stellar wine. Frankly just about as suave and exciting as any young Chave I have tasted. You would never guess Cornas. The oldest one I have had is 2001, so I have no idea how they age. I am not sure if I will ever find out, as this is insanely delicious right now.

you say it like it’s bad!!

i adore cornas and allemand is spectacular. that sea salt character really comes through. there aren’t too many in this “style” (air quotes since it’s likely the complete absence of style that makes these wines great).

glad you enjoyed it.

look at robert michel “le geynale” for a bit cheaper and equally excellent cornas.

Thanks Yaacov. I am used to Cornas being somewhat rustic and green and bit OTT in black olive character. This was nice, bloody Syrah. Whole bottle went down easy…

it is a good wine

  • 2001 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (6/30/2009)
    WIMPs N Rhone Lunch (The Ledbury, London): Dark purple color, very young looking. dark smokey fruits on the nose.this was all young vibrant smokey blackberries. primary. best bottle i have had of this yet. lovely smokey edge to it. med weight, long finish, well balanced,really gave the ogier a run for its money (91 pts.)

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Had a bottle of this tonight and I’m on board with you, Eric. Absolutely outstanding bottle of Syrah and even off an NYC restaurant list, I feel like it was a value. Initially a bit closed on the nose but opened up to show that classic bloody character with a good dose of pepper, olive and violet. Pure cassis and leather flavors, with grippy but ripe tannins and bright acid that just doesn’t quit on a stupidly long finish.

Yum, glad it worked for you too!

You see, this is the kind of wine you should call me to come drink. Allemand is one of my all time favorite.

Had a bottle recently as well. Didn’t type up my notes yet, but it’s so concentrated and intense, but not at all one dimensional.

From what I remember: lots aromatically, tart raspberries on the attack, a pronounced mid palate of cracked black pepper and even some florals, and then it really does have a stupid long finish of earth and soil.

Benchmark Syrah.

2005 Thierry Allemand Cornas Reynard - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (11/22/2022)
– decanted approx. 1 hr. before initial taste –
– tasted non-blind over approx. 2 hrs. –

NOSE: tight; red-fruited with some hint of funk; minty mineral; hint of cement-mineral.

BODY: medium bodied; garnet-violet color with slight bricking.

TASTE: high, spiky; acidity; fine, drying tannin; young, but mostly open; a bit fuzzy/muddled; some horsiness; tasty now, but it seems to be asking for considerably more time — it’s a bit rough-n-tumble right now, so I’d let it rest for a good deal longer in an effort to get it to that “old and elegant” phase of its life. Excellent, but Hold.

50, 5, 13, 17, 9 = (94 pts.)

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pulled one a month or two ago. Purchased on release. Really tight in the beginning. Probably an hour decant. Opened as the night went on into a pretty nice wine. Next time I’ll definitely pre decant.

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Huh!!! I never opened the case! Maybe 2025!!!

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Have the good fortune of drinking quite a bit of aged Allemand, and I would really encourage you to wait on the 2005s. Had the following in the last couple of months: 1995 Chaillot and Reynard, 1999 Chaillot and Reynard, 2004 Sans Souffre, 2011 Sans Souffre. The 1995s and 1999s are majestic at the moment. 2004 and 2011 both in need of more time (not much to say about them at the moment except that those are massive Syrahs that need more time to come around).

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Thank you for the notes. I have a case of this sitting deep in storage - good to know there is no need to pull it … Allemand, imho, requires significant aging. Never liked it young.