Franck Balthazar
Overview
Franck Balthazar is a small, artisan producer in Cornas, the granite-dominated Northern Rhône appellation. The domaine farms organically and produces site-specific Cornas cuvées from individual lieu-dits and old-vine parcels. Balthazar’s wines are in the classical Cornas tradition: dark, mineral, and tannic in youth, capable of 20+ years of aging. Small production makes the wines hard to find.
Appellations
- Cornas (multiple lieu-dit cuvées)
My Cellar
68 total bottles (3 recent).
- Cornas: 68 btls (22 pending), 2009–2022
This is a large, long-held position — vintages back to 2009. Limited recent buying suggests the position is being held for drinking rather than expanded.
Style Notes
Classical Cornas: granite terroir dominates, showing iron, black olive, wild herb, and dark fruit. Firm tannins in youth, needs 10+ years. The lieu-dit wines show distinct site character. Balthazar is a name that commands collector attention for classical Syrah lovers.
My Tastings
Tasting Notes (from VFTC #119)
2022 Vintage: Three cuvées tasted — all come in at 13% alcohol, reflecting old vine restraint even in a hot drought year.
- 2022 “Chaillot”: Rated 95. The oldest vines in Cornas — planted by grandfather during WWI (the oldest), with “younger” second parcel at 75 years (acquired from uncle Noël Verset). Deep, complex, “very elegant in profile for young Cornas.” Drinking window: 2045–2100. One of the finest young Cornas notes in this report.
- 2022 “Cuvée Casimir Balthazar”: Rated 93+. Old school Cornas; barrel-fermented in older casks. Heightened acidity from drought; “very slow to mature.” Drinking window: 2040–2100.
- 2022 “Sans Soufre Ajouté”: Rated 91. From younger vines in la Lègre lieu-dits; 100% whole clusters; no SO2 added. More open and accessible but lacks the depth and longevity of the old vine cuvées. Gilman notes: “sans soufre clearly robs the wine of some quality and potential longevity. Think of it as Cornas Nouveau.”
Key context from VFTC #119: Gilman had not received samples from Balthazar since the 2011 vintage due to a change in importers. The renewal of availability and the quality of the 2022 wines confirm Balthazar’s standing as one of Cornas’ finest. The “Chaillot” inherits direct lineage from Noël Verset’s legendary vines.
Producer Profile (JLL / drinkRhone.com)
JLL rates Franck Balthazar as an STGT domaine whose wines “express their place faithfully with tender winemaking in support.” The base of the wine is the old family vineyard on Chaillot, bought in 1930. Old vine fruit is a key contributor. The wine is a classic example of Cornas carrying clear fruit and early tannins requiring 3-4 years to settle. There are four bottlings each vintage, so cask-ageing time can vary.
Organic conversion: Franck has worked organically since 2010, officially certified in 2013.
Key wines and cuvées:
- Cornas Chaillot — the main wine; old vine Syrah from the 1930s family vineyard; a regular top-notcher. The 2024 and 2025 were both five-star wines.
- Cornas sans soufre ajouté — since 2012, 1,600-2,400 bottles from young vines on La Legre, SO2-free. High interest and purity in 2018, 2021, 2022, 2024. Can live past 10 years in stable cellar conditions. In 2020 he also made a zero-SO2 Chaillot — “dynamite” five-star wine in 2022.
- Cornas Juliette — from Syrah planted by Franck in 2015 high up on Les Pres at 370 metres, very acid soils, out of sight of the village. His youngest-vines wine. The 2024 and 2025 were both very fine.
- Cornas Hommage — tribute to father Rene and grandfather, bearing the old-fashioned white label of the domaine. Just 280 bottles, receives only 1-1.5 gm SO2 at bottling. The 2023 was “classy, Pinot-esque.”
- Cornas Cuvee Casimir Balthazar — named bottling
- Saint-Peray — planted 0.315 ha of Roussanne in 2013-14 on Clarencon close to Cornas, on previously overgrown land. The 2021 was “a most charming wine” from a record harvest (2,000 bottles).
Negociant activity (since 2015): Buys Syrah crop from Saint-Joseph (Mauves, 1,000 bottles), Crozes-Hermitage (La Roche-de-Glun and Mercurol, 6,000 bottles), and Cotes du Rhone from the South (Seguret and Tulette, 70,000+ bottles; 40-60% Grenache, 40-45% Syrah, Mourvedre, and from 2024 20% Cinsault for freshness).
Export markets: 1) USA, 2) Great Britain, 3) Norway/Australia/Belgium. 60% exported.
Key Wines & Vintage Notes (JLL / drinkRhone.com)
Cornas Chaillot
The main wine; old vine Syrah from the 1930s family vineyard. A regular top-notcher.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 2049-51 | Stylish, promising; red and black fruits, gentle blue fruit |
| 2023 | — | 2049-51 | Potentially stylish; wild strawberry, herbal spark |
| 2022 | ★★★★(★)–★★★★★ | 2046-50 | Scope, mystery, black berry; firm core; “a five-star wine” |
| 2021 | — | 2044-46 | Raspberry, licorice, rose petals; typical honest Cornas |
| 2020 | ★★★★ | 2044-47 | Gentle, in formation; blackberry, herbs, spice |
| 2019 | — | 2045-47 | Meaty, savoury, mulled raspberry, rose perfume |
| 2018 | — | 2043-45 | Ebullient; cassis, blue fruit, smoky |
Cornas Hommage
Tribute bottling with old-fashioned white label. Just 280 bottles, minimal SO2.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 2047-49 | Reduced but much style; floral-incense, blackberry; “special” |
| 2023 | — | 2050-52 | Blackberry, rose tone, purity; damson; “classy, Pinot-esque” |
| 2022 | — | 2047-49 | Calm, well filled; black cherry, clear blackcurrant |
| 2021 | — | 2045-47 | Neat blackberry, licorice, cedar, smoke; drives well |
Cornas Juliette
From 2015-planted Syrah high up on Les Pres at 370m.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 2047-49 | ”Sexy, curvy, stylish black cherry, real temptation” |
| 2023 | — | 2046-48 | Beefy, dark red fruit; corporal side, mystery |
| 2022 | ★★★–★★★★ | 2039-48 | Gentle black cherry, tender floral opening |
Cornas Cuvee Casimir Balthazar
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | ★★★★ | 2044-46 | Black olives, soaked black cherries; sun density |
| 2022 | ★★★★ | 2044-46 | Sprightly violet, blackberry; pitter-patter delivery |
| 2019 | — | 2039-41 | Discreet, waiting; black cherry, violet, coffee beans |
Cornas Sans Soufre Ajouté
From young vines on La Legre, SO2-free. 1,600-2,400 bottles.
| Vintage | Rating | Drinking Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | 2041-43 | Volume, thick blackberry coulis, depth |
| 2022 | ★★★(★)–★★★★(★) | 2034-41 | Soaked griottes, damp soils, forest in autumn |
| 2018 | — | 2030-33 | Crunchy, Morello cherry, blueberry, rose petal; “fine” |
Vintage Context (from JLL vintage reports)
-
2020: Franck on the vintage: “a pre-hot climate year, with more finesse, but still at 13.5 degrees, a lot for here.” The wines are not nearly as deep and brooding as the 2019s. See 2020 Rhone Vintage.
-
2019: Chaillot: “meaty, savoury, mulled raspberry, rose perfume.” Casimir Balthazar: “discreet, waiting; black cherry, violet, coffee beans.” Cornas received no August rain in 2019, giving denser, more solar packages. See 2019 Rhone Vintage.
-
2018: Chaillot: “ebullient; cassis, blue fruit, smoky.” Sans Soufre: “crunchy, Morello cherry, blueberry, rose petal; fine.” JLL notes the hierarchy of soils was never stronger in 2018 — noble terroirs like Chaillot prevailed. See 2018 Rhone Vintage. 2010: Chaillot five stars. Rich wines with fresh tannins — a perfectly balanced vintage at Cornas. See 2010 Rhone Vintage.
2009: Chaillot five stars. Dense, concentrated vintage. See 2009 Rhone Vintage.
- 2008: Franck: “September 2008 was nickel, real quality weather; we picked in sun and a North Wind that concentrated the bunches. There was no hail. Oidium was the problem this year. I cropped 26 hl/ha this year, down about 25%.” Chaillot rated ★★★ (“STGT wine,” drink 2017-19). See 2008 Rhone Vintage.
Sources
sources/articles/VFTC/VFTC Sept-Oct 2025 #119.txt— Annual Rhône Report (John Gilman, October 2025)sources/articles/JLL/Franck_Balthazar.txt— Producer profile (John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkRhone.com)sources/articles/JLL/rhone_wines_data.json— Wine-by-wine vintage notes (JLL / drinkRhone.com)sources/articles/JLL/rhone_vintage_reports.json— JLL vintage reports 2008-2021