Split a small parcel of older Allemand Sans Soufre from across the pond with the guys and have been itching the crack into some. Stood them up for a couple of weeks. 1999 was double decanted about a hour before dinner. 2001 was double decanted about 4 hours before dinner.
Both wines showed well, but the 1999 almost seemed reserved based on how incredible the 2001 was showing. The last 3 bottles of the 2001 Sans Soufre I’ve had have been absolutely epic wines - top of the heap for Syrah in the world.
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1999 Thierry Allemand Cornas Sans Soufre - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (9/17/2019)
First up is the 1999 - the second vintage of Thierry’s grand experiment into sulfur free Syrah. Such a young in still. It’s framed by a rich fine grained tannin backbone and filled with fleshy inky dark cherry fruit that coats the palate like a syrup. There’s a note of menthol and dusty earth that sit far in the background of that almost chewy mouthful of fruit. Slowly opening up over the night but could highly benefit from additional airtime/age as it sheds the grip on the wine. Probably won’t open the last bottle for awhile. Like so many other 1999 Cornas, the wine is stuffed with material but needs significant time to really shine. -
2001 Thierry Allemand Cornas Sans Soufre - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas (9/17/2019)
The 99 would have shown much better if it wasn’t sitting next to its brash younger sibling in the 2001. The 2001 is everything you want in a Syrah. It has next level purity in the fruit - clean as a whistle and carries a weight that saturates the palate but still glides effortlessly into the finish. The concentration is obvious but never overbearing. The polish on the wine makes the fruit glimmer and jump on the palate - especially with the sparkling minerality that lingers on your tongue. The nose is filled with aromatic flowers, spice and bright red fruit. This bottle seemed even younger than prior bottles as it seems to be holding back feral/wild savory note that didn’t start to come out until the second night.
Picture of the wines