Thierry Allemand Cornas Cuvee R Rouge 2021

Thierry Allemand is regarded as one of the true icons of the Northern Rhône and the winemaker most responsible for elevating Cornas to its rightful place among France’s great terroirs. Starting with almost nothing in the 1980s, Allemand painstakingly restored abandoned terraces and acquired small plots in the appellation’s most prized lieux-dits, particularly Chaillot and Reynard. His holdings today remain modest—just a few hectares—yet the wines are among the most coveted in the region.

Allemand farms by hand, with an obsessive attention to detail and a deep respect for the fragile granite slopes he tends. His methods are traditional yet thoughtful: low yields, whole-bunch fermentations with indigenous yeasts, long macerations, and élevage in mostly old oak. The goal is purity and site expression rather than winemaking imprint, allowing the vineyards to speak with clarity.

The style of Allemand’s wines is unique within Cornas—combining the appellation’s natural power and sauvage intensity with a rare sense of finesse, freshness, and perfume. His bottlings are often described as “Burgundian” in their precision and balance, yet they remain unmistakably Cornas in their depth and authenticity. With limited production and a global cult following, Thierry Allemand’s wines stand as benchmarks of the Northern Rhône and exemplify the heights Syrah can achieve when nurtured by vision, patience, and respect for terroir.