Thierry Allemand

Overview

Thierry Allemand is one of the legendary names of Cornas and the Rhône Valley. A self-taught vigneron who worked under Robert Michel, Allemand produces two cuvées from old Syrah vines on Cornas’s granite hillsides: “Reynard” (from younger vines, ~40–60 years) and “Chaillot” (from the oldest vines, 70–100+ years). The wines are natural, with no fining or filtration, and represent the absolute pinnacle of the appellation.

Production is tiny — total production of both cuvées is only a few thousand cases per year, making the wines extremely sought-after.

Key Wines

• Cornas “Reynard” — granite terroir, 40–60yo vines; powerful, structured
• Cornas “Chaillot” — oldest vines (70–100+ yo); more concentrated and complex

My Cellar

49 total bottles (9 recent).

• Cornas: 49 btls (9 pending), 2000–2022 (extensive vertical including 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008)

A serious vertical with rare older vintages. The 2000 and earlier bottles are among the most valuable in the cellar.

Style Notes

Allemand’s wines are dark, wild, and elemental — black fruit, iron, graphite, white pepper. The natural winemaking results in some reductive notes that blow off with air. At their best (Chaillot from great years), they are among the most profound Syrahs on earth.

My Tastings

(none yet)

Sources

(Profile derived from CellarTracker data; mentioned in context of Cornas lineup in 119)