Cornas, Chaillot,

Thierry continues to make Cornas of majestic quality and is one of the few growers to shun the use of new oak barrels when raising his wines before bottling. Sadly many others have been badly advised – as Thierry so succinctly put it: “New oak doesn’t give anything to Cornas except faults.” Grapes are fermented as whole bunches, sulphur usage is as low as possible and the wines are aged in old oak barrels for 18-24 months depending on the vintage. His Cornas Chaillot is a blend of young vines and 20- to 40-year-old vines usually characterised by juicy blackberry and damson flavours with hints of pepper and chocolate. The Reynard is a cuvée made just from old vines that attacks the palate with its deep concentration of black olive, blackcurrant and intensely mineral, saline flavours. They both have the distinctive class and breed of great wines from a great grower.