Rhone - Balthazar

Question 1

2015: Balthazar Selections: Crozes-Hermitage

Answer 1

1000 bottles produced

Pure Syrah.

No sulphur.

From vines averaging 37 years old, the grapes are hand-harvested and undergo 15 day maceration period, followed by spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts for 15 days in barrels around 30 years old. Aged for 10 months in barrel and filtered. Practicing Organic.

Question 2

2015: Balthazar Selections: Cotes du Rhone

Answer 2

13.5% abv

75% Syrah and 25% Grenache Wine making in stainless steel for 3 weeks. Much of the wine is aged in 600L barrels for several years. Certified Organic.

Question 3

Franck Balthazar BIO

Answer 3

Franck Balthazar has been blessed with the laid-back demeanor necessary to crafting flawless cuvées, as well as with the opportunity to work a 97-year old parcel purchased from his uncle, Noël Verset.

The domaine was founded in 1931 by Franck’s grandfather, Casmir Balthazar, buying some vines and planting others, with its first bottling in 1980. Franck took over the 2 hectare family estate from his father René in 2002. Then the estate was made of one hectare of century old vines and one of forty-year old; he has since expanded to 3.5 hectares of Syrah, with new plantings in 2005 and 2008, from which he makes about 8,000 bottles each year in a small cellar behind a local church. By fermenting each parcel separately, Franck is able to better demonstrate the expressive value of his lands.

-