At a glance

Producer

Thierry Allemand

Region

Cornas, Northern Rhône, France

Grape variety

Syrah

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Earthy

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$900-$1400 USD (auction/retail, 2024)

Tasting profile

Deep tertiary aromas (leather, olive, dried violets, forest floor), fading black fruits, smoky minerality, savory and wild notes. Mouthfeel is elegant, with resolved tannins, fresh acidity, and immense complexity.

Evolution: Primary fruits in youth gave way to spicy, gamey, earthy, and floral tones. 1996 is generally an elegant, classic vintage with less density than 1995 or 1999.

At peak: At peak 2010-2018; top bottles remain vital, offering haunting aromatics, though fruit is more subtle and structure more delicate.

Structure

Acidity

Bright, supporting longevity and freshness

Tannins

Integrated, silky, resolved but still persistent

Alcohol

Approx. 13-13.5%

Aging potential

30+ years from vintage in the best cellars; exceptional bottles may show brilliance through 2026.

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2010 to 2026

Optimal window

2005 to 2029

Current status

Mature, at or slightly past peak depending on provenance

Current condition

Expect tertiary complexity, risk of bottle variation; well-stored bottles remain thrilling, fragile or declining if poorly stored.

Thierry Allemand's Cornas Reynard ranks among the longest-lived Northern Rhône Syrahs, especially in more classic, structured vintages. 1996 is considered a somewhat lighter but age-worthy year. With elite winemaking, old-vine fruit, and natural farming, these bottles exceed generic aging windows; well-preserved examples can deliver a transcendental experience at 28+ years but are now delicate.

Food pairing

Seared duck breast, slow-roasted lamb, wild mushroom risotto, venison, aged Comté or Tomme de Savoie. Highlight gentle, earthy flavors to echo evolved complexity.

Serving

Serving temperature

16-18°C / 61-64°F

Decant

Yes (30-60 minutes (gentle decant, with extreme care)) — To separate from heavy sediment and allow delicate aromatics to unfurl. Avoid prolonged exposure to air due to fragility.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 8/10

Allemand is legendary for painstaking, chemical-free viticulture: no herbicides or pesticides, handwork on steep slopes, natural grass cover, and minimal use of copper/sulfur. Traditional basket presses, native yeasts, no new oak, no fining or filtration. Bottling by gravity, old glass, natural cork.

Thierry Allemand is a standard-bearer for sustainable, regenerative winemaking in Cornas. He chooses holistic, organic practices since founding the domaine, eschews all chemical intervention, and works vigorously to preserve biodiversity and terroir expression. While lacking formal certifications, his practice exceeds most certified operations for environmental impact. Extremely low-volume, artisanal production and minimal packaging waste (no over-packaging). International demand means bottles often travel far, but otherwise carbon and ecological footprint are exemplary.