Franck Balthazar - Cuvée Casimir Balthazar 2022
Domaine Franck Balthazar was founded in 1931. It has been managed since 2002 by Franck, who succeeded his father René, in charge since 1950 and who had supervised the transition to bottling at the estate in the 1970s. The estate has grown from 2 hectares in 2002 (1 hectare of century-old vines in Chaillot and 1 hectare of vines around 50 years old in Mazard ) to around 3.5 hectares today. Plantations on a steep site above Sabarotte have were added in 2005 and 2008 on newly formed terraces. Franck Balthazar's aim is to maintain the traditional approach of his grandfather, Casimir.
The vineyards are organic and plowed with a horse, the ferments are whole bunches with indigenous yeasts in concrete vats. To preserve the perfume of the old vines and high altitude plantations, all the wines are aged in old demi-muids of 600 liters . Sulfur is reduced to a minimum and all winemaking techniques are as natural as possible.
The Casimir cuvée comes from old Syrah vines on the granite soils of Mazard , in the Cornas appellation . It was named in homage to his grandfather , Casimir. The vinification is done in whole bunches with indigenous yeasts, then the maceration lasts 13 days. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels and aging lasts 18 months in 600-liter barrels.
Grape variety: 100% Syrah