2016 Cotes du Rhone
Franck Balthazar
$21.99

This cuvée (75% Syrah and 25% Grenache) comes from Syrah vines which were planted in 2005 just outside the Cornas appellation in granitic soils. Here the vines face southeast, soils are worked by hand, and the vines are treated with respect, giving about 40 hL/ha of fruit each year. Grapes are hand harvested and fermentation begins with natural yeasts, lasting about two weeks. The wine is then moved to old oak barrels to age for about eight months before bottling.