François Villard : Mairlant 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes of the Mairlant 2023 by François Villard

Tasting

Appearance
The wine reveals a deep red hue, enhanced by delicate purple highlights.

Nose
Intense and explosive, the aromatic bouquet opens with notes of ripe black fruits such as blackcurrant and blackberry, accompanied by touches of red fruits. The whole is heightened by spicy nuances of black pepper and subtle floral scents reminiscent of violet.

Palate
The attack is supple and reveals a beautiful density. The palate offers a fine, silky and well-integrated tannic structure, without any aggressiveness. A pleasant freshness perfectly balances the generosity of the fruit, leading to a long, vibrant and elegant finish, underlined by a delicate minerality and perfectly integrated oak.

Food and wine pairings

This characterful red wine pairs wonderfully with flavorful meats such as an aged rib of beef, herb-roasted lamb or beef cheek braised in red wine. It will also ideally accompany a game terrine, dishes with smoky notes or a creamy polenta.

Serving and cellaring

The Mairlant 2023 already offers great pleasure on tasting, but its tannins will continue to soften and evolve favourably in the cellar until around 2030.

The elegance and power of a great red wine from Saint-Joseph

The estate

A former chef with a passion for wine, François Villard founded his estate in 1989 in the northern part of the Rhône Valley in France. Self-taught and visionary, he remains today the owner and manager of this property, which extends over just over 40 hectares. Renowned for his gastronomic approach, his late-harvested grapes and his meticulous work, François Villard has established himself as a key figure in the region. The estate also stands out for its environmental commitment, having obtained organic farming certification in 2022.

The vineyard

From the Saint-Joseph appellation, this cuvée comes from vines around 25 years old, planted on steep slopes and narrow terraces. Facing south-east, this terroir benefits from light, well-draining soils, mainly composed of decomposed granite, schist and gneiss. The entire vineyard is managed according to organic farming principles, requiring fully manual work to preserve the vitality of the vines.

The vintage

The 2023 vintage benefited from exceptional climatic conditions, allowing optimal ripeness to be reached and offering a perfect expression of the grape variety.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes for Mairlant 2023 are harvested by hand. In the cellar, vinification begins with partial destemming, followed by fermentation in open stainless-steel vats with indigenous yeasts. A maceration of around three weeks is carried out, accompanied by gentle punching down and pumping over for measured extraction. Aging then takes place over a period of 12 to 18 months in barrels, with a proportion of around 20% new oak, in order to refine the tannic structure.

Grape variety

100% Syrah.