Franck Balthazar 'Cuvée Casimir,' Cornas, France 2020

Frank Balthazar took over his family estate in 2002, inheriting a few plots of century-old vines in prime Rhône Valley territory. In the vineyards and the cellar, he is a one-man show, a purist and a traditionalist who has perfected his cultivation and vinification methods. Cuvée Casimir is produced from vines around ten years of age, grown on granite soils without any chemical treatment.  Pairing: Braised beef, mushrooms, dim sum  Grapes: Syrah  Soil: Granite Viticulture: Organic  Notes on the wine from John Livingstone of Drink Rhône: **** (600-litre cask) dark red colour; fresh wild strawberries with sweet appeal show on the nose, which is a touch herbal from the stems. The attack is supple, holds juicy red berry fruit, refined and mild tannins, clusters on a sweet, quiet finale, isn’t especially filled, doesn’t have the structure of 2019. It’s round, aromatic, rather delicate. From 2024. 2037-39 July 2021