2012 - Cornas Chaillot, Thierry Allemand

Coming from the younger vines of the estate, Allemand's 2012 Cornas les Chaillots is slightly fresher and more lean than the bigger, more concentrated Reynard, yet is still an incredible Cornas that checks in near the top of the hierarchy. Possessing an almost Clape-like iron, beef blood, tapenade and ground pepper laced bouquet, as well as a core of sweet cassis and black raspberry fruit, this rocking effort has full-bodied richness, solid mid-palate concentration and perfectly integrated acidity. It opens up beautifully with air, and while it shows the more approachable style of the vintage, it won't start to hit maturity until around age ten; it will have 20 years or more of ultimate longevity.

Inky ruby. Deeply pitched black and blue fruit aromas are complicated and enlivened by notes of white pepper, allspice and smoky minerals, with a suave floral nuance slowly emerging. Broad, seamless and alluringly sweet, offering palate-coating boysenberry and violet pastille flavors and suggestions of spicecake and cola. Clings with superb tenacity and focus on the floral finish, which is framed by silky, even tannins.