François Villard "L'Appel des Sereines" Rhône Valley, France 2023

FROM BOWLER WINE:

THE WINE: A young vine Syrah from several villages Chavanay, Ardoix, Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, and Verin, all with a decomposed granite soil. Twelve day maceration with fifty percent whole clusters in stainless steel vats followed by fifteen months of aging, 75% in oak vats and 25% in neutral barrels. A peppery and juicy Syrah.

THE PRODUCER: Francois Villard was not born into wine; he started out his career as a chef. He grew up between Vienne and Grenoble, in the French countryside. He made his first Condrieu in 1991, a whopping 400 bottles. Today, makes wine from 64 hectares, of which he owns 40 hectares, purchasing fruit from the balance. He makes wine from Côte-Rôtie down to Saint Peray, and a little of everything between: four Condrieu, five Saint-Joseph (red and white), three Crozes-Hermitage, a Cornas, and four Vin de France (Marsanne-Roussanne, Viognier, and two Syrah).