HIGH FIDELITY
domaine françois villard
François Villard readily admits that he was fortunate to learn about wine before making it.
Legend has it that he is self-taught, but in fact he trained: his initial profession as a chef led him into sommellerie, whence to grape-growing and oenology. Granted, he has also largely shaped himself, through reading and tasting widely and through many wine-related encounters. So that by the time he began clearing and planting in the Poncins locality of Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône in 1989, he had a fairly clear idea of what a quality wine could be; of what he liked and wanted. As for the rest? “Passion is like having two big blinkers, you keep moving forward”, he says, as if echoing Elvis Costello, another eclectic character for whom “life is about movement”.
Today, the list of FV labels makes the head spin, but not his wines, which keep their Northern style even whilst heading South. Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Péray – everywhere, François Villard is the master of delicacy, with a sizeable talent for producing highly ageable wines still enjoyable when young… And a cheeky penchant for rustling up cuvées as and when the mood takes him: no mention of appellation, just amazing monikers – Doux Contours “Smooth Contours”), Seul en Scène (“Alone on Stage”)… We must reach beyond beliefs, rules and customs, seems to be the message of François Villard, who cares little for tasting scores and fashions.
Faithful to his desire for freshness, mineral fruit and balance in the glass, and attentive to his taste-buds, which are always employed, from the vine to the bottle, he is firmly attac hed to his idea of wine: what matters is pleasure.
vineyards
17.5 ha of reds: CÔTE-RÔTIE and SAINT JOSEPH AOCS, VIN DE PAYS DES COLLINES RHODANIENNES. 14.5 ha of whites: CONDRIEU, SAINT JOSEPH and SAINT PÉRAY AOCS, and VIN DE PAYS DES COLLINES RHODANIENNES, supplemented by purchased grapes.
CELLAR
REDS: Vinified in wooden and/or stainless-steel vats, depending on the grapes. Minimal destemming, whole-bunch fermentation preferred where possible, natural yeasts, little or no cap-punching, matured in Burgundy barrels and wooden vats for 12-20 months. • WHITES: Vinified and matured in Burgundy barrels and foudres for 10-18 months, natural yeasts, weekly stirring for about 6 months.
WINES
REDS: CÔTE-RÔTIE • Le Gallet Blanc, La Brocarde • SAINT JOSEPH • Poivre et Sol, Mairlant, Reflet, Gran Reflet • CROZES HERMITAGE: Comme une Evidence • CORNAS • Jouvet • VIN DE PAYS DES COLLINES RHODANIENNES Syrah Seyssuel • Seul en Scène • VIN DE FRANCE Syrah • l'Appel des Sereines • WHITES: CONDRIEU: Les Terrasses du Palat, Le Grand Vallon, Deponcins, Villa Pontciana, Viognier • SAINT JOSEPH: Mairlant, Fruit d'Avilleran marsanne, roussanne • SAINT PÉRAY: Version, Version Longue marsanne, roussanne • CROZES HERMITAGE: Cour de Récré marsanne, roussanne • VIN DE FRANCE marsanne, roussanne Les Contours de Mairlant • VIN DE FRANCE Viognier Les Contours de Deponcins.
- Domaine Jean-Michel Gerin
- Domaine Yves Cuilleron
- Domaine François Villard
- Domaine Louis Cheze
- Domaine Combier
- Domaine Graillot
- Domaine Courbis
- Domaine Alain Voge
- Domaine Delubac
- Domaine de Montvac
- Domaine de la Janasse
- Domaine de Beaurenard
- Domaine de la Citadelle
- Château Revelette
DOMAINE FRANÇOIS VILLARD
330, Route du Réseau Ange
42410 Saint Michel sur Rhône
42410 Saint Michel sur Rhône
Tél. : +33 (0)4 74 56 83 60
vinsvillard@wanadoo.fr
vinsvillard@wanadoo.fr
