Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot 2015

Cellar for up to 20 years. Decant 1 hour before serving. Today Thierry Allemand produces some of the Rhone’s greatest and most distinguished wines and is widely regarded as a local legend, but things weren’t always that way. With no formal training and no history of winemaking in his family, Thierry began the hard way, working in the cellars of esteemed vignerons and slowly purchasing land suitable to begin his own winery. After years of dedication and backbreaking labour, Thierry currently works around 5 hectares which include some of the finest sites in Cornas. His Cornas Chaillot is an outstanding expression of the capabilities of the Syrah grape when grown on the clay and limestone soils on Chaillot’s steep south-facing slopes. This iconic wine is a delight to the senses with its seductively deep red hue and enticing aromas of crushed dark berries, sage leaves, white pepper and rose petals. The first sip reveals a big, bold personality with a firm structure, ripe tannins and hints of woodsmoke, dried herbs and black olives alongside the ripe fruit flavours. The powerful backbone of this wine makes it an excellent contender for extended ageing. If you do intend to drink it now, consider serving it alongside a hearty beef stew or fine steak to allow this exceptional wine to truly shine.

Price: £215.14 from 8wines UK