1998 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot - ready?

R

Roger LaMarque

Roger LaMarque
A few bottles of this have made their way into my possession. I understand from posts from a few years ago that this was rather tight. Anyone had any recently? Any reason not to try the first one soon? For what it is worth, this will be my first Allemand, so I'm sure they'll all be corked.
 
originally posted by Roger LaMarque:
1998 Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot - ready?A few bottles of this have made their way into my possession. I understand from posts from a few years ago that this was rather tight. Anyone had any recently? Any reason not to try the first one soon? For what it is worth, this will be my first Allemand, so I'm sure they'll all be corked.
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Not at peak, but worth a shot. Allemand rarely shows awfully.
 
originally posted by Cristian Dezso:
I only have the 04 - both Chaillot and Reynard. I guess I should stay away from these for another 5 years or so, right?
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I've got a Chaillot on deck and will maybe even post or blog about it when I drink it.

As a general rule, the only time I've ever had an Allemand show poorly was the 1999 Reynard and that only happen because Mark E. was sitting next to me and said it would, so I got all Deeboed on that shit.
 
I opened one about a month ago. It was really good. I didn't find it as being tight, it was showing nice development, is transitional, and open. I'd say it has further development ahead but was lovely last month.
 
Shocking that I agree with the simian but yeah, never had a bad bottle of Allemand cornas other than from 02 or 03.

To me, it's never a question of how bad will it be, it's a question of how good may it become. But you will never know if you like the style if you have never tasted one of the wines.
 
I had to wait until both the simian and red-headed hockey fan weighed in.

The '98 Chaillot is perfectly ready to drink now, although I would say it is somewhere between the youthful, rich, lush peak of a couple years ago (my preference) and maximum complexity. Drink now and drink later.
 
I was just wondering what the House styles of Clape, Verset, and Allemand are like. I know Verset is now no more, but I would be interested to know what it used to be like. Also, opinions on Voge?
 
originally posted by Yule Kim:
I was just wondering what the House styles of Clape, Verset, and Allemand are like. I know Verset is now no more, but I would be interested to know what it used to be like. Also, opinions on Voge?
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Verset is rustic and wild and beautiful. Allemand is polished and wild and beautiful. Clape is boring. Voge is quite nice though not in the same league as the first two.
 
I own a bit of Clape over several vintages that was sometimes tasted on release, but not since. (Getting ready to try some '96 and '98.) Don't know if it'll be "boring" or not. Do know that the juice that comes from their old vines on Reynard is just stunning. In total agreement as far as Verset and Allemand are concerned.
 
I own plenty of Clape, Allemand, and Verset, the first and last going back to 1983, Allemand only to 1994, all bought on release (except the 1983 Verset which came, years later, from the property). I love them all (except 1997 Clape, which I deliberately do not own) and suggest that if M. Miller (whose taste I admire) thinks Clape is boring, he's not sampled from the same wines I have (I must have just about 35 vintages of Clape under my belt -- but there are at least two cuves/vintage).

Thor and Larry Stein may want to jump in -- they've both had Clape from my cellar; I think Steve Edmunds, too. Thor, when I first met him, expressed the opinion that Cornas was on the same level as Crozes-Hermitage, an opinion that I think he has been disabused of.

(JR, however, remains ever recalcitrant about Cornas, although she does now concede to liking Allemand.)
 
originally posted by Claude Kolm:

Thor and Larry Stein may want to jump in -- they've both had Clape from my cellar; I think Steve Edmunds, too. Thor, when I first met him, expressed the opinion that Cornas was on the same level as Crozes-Hermitage, an opinion that I think he has been disabused of.
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You gave Thor the Clape? (Sorry, couldn't resist). As I've stated here before, I think that Clape's wines are just barely nudged out by Verset's, but still are great expressions of Syrah in Cornas. To indulge in a metaphor, Verset's wines have more soul to me. Allemand's wines, those few that I've had, are completely different beasts: very polished and squeaky clean by comparison. Voge and Juge (does he still make wine?) are good producers, but maybe lack the great terroir?

Mark Lipton
 
I find Verset's wines often veer too much towards shoe-polish and brett flavors. Clape's wines, when they're open for business, give big-time olives and dirt with a hint of blueberries. I agree with the assembled crowd that Allemand's wines are whistle-clean and enticing.
 
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