François Villard : Mairlant 2023

Characteristics and tasting notes for the Saint-Joseph "Mairlant" 2023 by François Villard

Tasting notes

Colour
The glass reveals a delicate pale gold hue, with beautiful clarity.

Nose
The nose opens with a floral and fruity bouquet, blending white flower scents with peach and apricot aromas. As it airs, it reveals a lovely complexity through notes of honey and dried fruits, subtly enhanced by touches of citrus zest and light smoky, woody nuances.

Palate
Full-bodied and round, the palate seduces with its liveliness and refreshing mineral backbone. Flavours of yellow fruit and honey unfold harmoniously, leading to a persistent, fresh finish marked by an elegant salinity.

Service and storage

For optimal tasting, it is recommended to serve this wine at a temperature between 12 and 13°C. This Saint-Joseph "Mairlant" 2023 can be enjoyed now and will continue to evolve favourably until around 2028.

Food and wine pairing

Ideal as an aperitif, this white wine also pairs wonderfully with delicate seafood, smoked salmon, trout, fish in sauce, quenelles, or soft-rind cheeses.

The mineral and elegant expression of a great white wine from the Rhône Valley

The estate

A former chef and sommelier, François Villard planted his first vines in 1989 before officially founding his estate in 1999. Located in the heart of the northern Rhône Valley, the estate now spans approximately 45 hectares. Still led by François Villard, the estate stands out for its pursuit of authenticity and deep respect for terroir, embodied by its organic certification obtained in 2022. The wines produced reflect a philosophy centred on balance, precision, and the expression of great mineral freshness.

The vineyard

Hailing from the Saint-Joseph appellation, this wine comes from plots located in the communes of Chavanay and Saint-Pierre-de-Bœuf. The vines, around twenty years old, thrive on steep slopes facing south/southeast. The terroir consists of light, well-drained granitic soils, cultivated by hand with the utmost respect for the environment.

The vintage

2023 brought highly favourable weather conditions to the region. Optimal sunshine and excellent temperature regulation throughout the growing cycle allowed the berries to reach perfect ripeness, resulting in a harvest of exceptional quality.

Winemaking and aging

After hand-harvesting, the grapes are pressed immediately. The juice is chilled for 24 to 48 hours for natural settling. Fermentation then takes place in oak barrels using indigenous yeasts. Aging continues for about 11 months in barrels (20% new oak), on fine lees, with weekly stirring and no racking.

Grape varieties

This wine is a blend of Marsanne and Roussanne.