François Villard : Malfondière 2022

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Crozes-Hermitage "Malfondière" 2022

Tasting

Colour
The hue of this French red wine reveals a deep and particularly intense red colour.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens with vibrant notes of black fruits such as blackberry and blackcurrant. With aeration, it reveals a lovely complexity blending touches of white pepper, sweet spices and liquorice, all underscored by subtle aromatic herb notes and a mineral imprint.

Palate
The palate offers a generous volume and a harmonious structure, carried by a perfect balance between mineral freshness and fruit concentration. The flavours of red and black fruit express themselves with gourmet richness, accompanied by spicy nuances. The tannins are silky, leading into a remarkably persistent finish.

Food and wine pairing

This wine pairs beautifully with flavourful meats such as beef fillet or roasted lamb shoulder. It will also enhance rich sauced dishes such as wild boar stew, hearty poultry like duck, as well as hard cheeses.

Service and storage

The Malfondière 2022 can be enjoyed now for its youthful fruitiness, but it also possesses excellent ageing potential, allowing it to develop in the cellar until around 2037.

The Authentic Expression of Crozes-Hermitage Terroir by Domaine François Villard

The estate

Founded in 1989 with the planting of its first vines, the estate is the result of the passionate career change of its current owner, François Villard. Located in Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, at the heart of the Rhône Valley, the estate now spans forty-five hectares certified organic. This former chef and sommelier has elevated his estate among the essential references of the region, offering cuvées that combine great aromatic precision with a deep respect for the environment and the northern terroirs.

The vineyard

Produced under the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, this cuvée comes exclusively from the Les Malfondières lieu-dit, located in the commune of Mercurol. This distinctive terroir is characterized by soils made up of clay, sand and rolled pebbles, which favour optimal ripening of the grapes through the nighttime release of stored heat. The vines, averaging forty-five years of age, are cultivated by hand and without synthetic herbicides, in strict accordance with organic farming principles.

Winemaking and aging

The grapes are harvested by hand, plot by plot, to ensure the berries are picked at perfect ripeness. Fermentation occurs naturally through the action of indigenous yeasts. The Malfondière 2022 is then aged for eighteen months in oak barrels that have previously held three to five wines. This technical choice allows the structure of the cuvée to be refined while preserving the brightness of the fruit, without imparting excessive oak character to the wine.

Grape variety

100% Syrah.