FRANCK BALTHAZAR - Côtes du Rhône 2019
Domaine Franck Balthazar dates back to 1931. It is managed since 2002 by Franck, who took over from his dad René, who was in charge since 1950 and had overseen the move into domaine bottling in the 1970s. The domaine has extended from 2 hectares in 2002 (1 hectare of centenarian vines in Chaillot and a 50-years-old hectare in Mazard) to around 3,5 hectares today. Plantings on an extreme site above Sabarotte were added in 2005 and 2008 on newly formed terraces. Franck’s aim is to preserve the traditional approach of his grandfather, Casimir.
Vineyards are organic and ploughed with a horse, ferments are whole cluster with native yeasts in concrete vats. To retain the perfume gifted by old vines and high-perched planting, all wines are aged in old 600 litres demi-muids. Sulphur is kept to the minimum and all winemaking techniques are as natural as possible.
The Côtes-du-Rhône is a blend of Syrah and Grenache. These grape varieties come from three hectares of vines close to Vinsobres. Vinification takes place in vats and fermentation begins with indigenous yeasts. The wine is not filtered, and a minimum dose of sulphites is added.
Grape varieties: 75% Syrah, 25% Grenache