François Villard : Jouvet 2018

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Jouvet 2018 by François Villard

Tasting

Color

The color reveals a deep, intense dark garnet hue.

Nose

The nose is complex and intense, expressing aromas of blackberry and black cherry alongside floral notes of violet. Spicy touches of black pepper mingle with mineral and licorice nuances.

Palate

On the palate, the wine is powerful and full-bodied, with beautifully ripe fruit. The tannic structure, present and firm, remains perfectly integrated thanks to careful aging. The palate unfolds with remarkable breadth, retaining an elegant freshness despite its power. The finish lingers at length with fresh, licorice notes.

Food and wine pairings

This wine pairs harmoniously with red meats such as beef tenderloin or braised beef. It also beautifully complements game meats such as roast venison, lamb, or Milanese-style osso buco. Duck breast in sauce also makes an excellent match.

Serving and cellaring

The Jouvet 2018 has a minimum aging potential of 10 to 15 years. Still young, this wine will continue to open up and gain complexity over the years.

A powerful, elegant Cornas from the Northern Rhône Valley

The estate

Founded in 1989, the François Villard estate is located in Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône in the Northern Rhône Valley. François Villard, a former chef turned winemaker, now runs this estate, which spans more than 40 hectares. Certified organic since 2022, the estate stands out for a remarkable stylistic evolution, now favoring elegance and balance over power.

The vineyard

Jouvet comes from plots located in the Cornas appellation, on the eponymous lieu-dit. The vines, around 15 years old, are rooted in decomposed quartzitic granite soil. Planting density reaches 8,000 vines per hectare, trained in Cordon de Royat and Gobelet. Yields are deliberately limited to 40 hectoliters per hectare in order to promote concentration.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage benefited from favorable weather conditions, producing grapes of great ripeness and remarkable balance.

Vinification and aging

The Jouvet 2018 grapes are harvested by hand, with sorting. Vinification follows a traditional approach with 100% whole clusters, a hallmark of François Villard’s style. Fermentation takes place over 8 days in open-top wooden vats. Aging lasts 18 months exclusively in older barrels, 5 to 7 years old, preserving the purity of the fruit without excessive oak influence.

Varietal

100% Syrah