Crozes Hermitage, Domaine Franck Balthazar 2020

Roughly 6,000 bottles a year are made of this peppery and smoky Syrah. Offering layers of green spices and bright red fruit, there is a distinctive herbal, blood orange tone to both the nose and palate. Still chalky and quite grippy on the palate, it will benefit from a year or so in bottle to fully knit together. Showing Balthazar's Cornas heritage, there is a bloody, iron-like quality to the fruit that is full of spice. Long and peppery on the finish, the dried herbs linger together with wild berry fruit.