Very fresh wild blackberry, dry forest floor and wild herb aromas. Considering this was 100% whole-cluster fermented, the tannins are restrained, gently building at the long, moderately dry finish. Plenty of pepper and wild herb character in the finish. Should age well. Drink from release.
94 points, Stuart Pigott, James Suckling (Apr 2024)
Crafted from old vines rooted in clay soils—two-thirds at the foot of the slope and one-third mid-slope—the 2022 Cornas Cuvée Casimir Balthazar unfurls from the glass with a delicately reduced bouquet of dark cherries, spices, pepper and flowers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and textured, it's elegantly juicy with good depth at the core, structured, youthful tannins and a long, spicy finish. Currently introverted due to the presence of reduction, it requires time to integrate its élevage and fully adjust to its recent bottling. This is an impressive effort.
93 points, Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate (Mar 2025)
The 2022 Cornas Cuvée Casimir Balthazar is a savory beast. Full-bodied, tannic and concentrated, it bundles radiant black fruits, cedar, graphite and cured meat aromatics. Doubling down with afterglow on the savory finale, the 2022 demands at least three more years in a cool cellar.
92 points, Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous (Jan 2025)