François Villard : Version Longue 2021

Characteristics and tasting advice for François Villard Version Longue 2021

Tasting

Color

Pale yellow in hue, this wine reflects careful aging.

Nose

The nose opens with aromas of stone fruits and citrus, with dominant notes of peach and lemon. White floral nuances accompany these fruity expressions, while hints of herbs and a saline minerality bring complexity to the aromatic profile.

Palate

On the palate, this wine shows a medium body with a vertical structure driven by bright acidity and pronounced minerality. The attack is generous and creamy, with flavors of green pears and white peaches alongside fresh herbs. The texture is both dense and lively, delivering an indulgent mouthfeel. The finish lingers with freshness, leaving a saline, herbal impression on the palate.

Food and wine pairings

This white wine pairs perfectly with delicate fish dishes such as trout or pan-seared scallops. It also complements seafood platters, fish tartares, and oysters with elegance. White meats and poultry served with light cream- or herb-based sauces also make excellent matches. For cheeses, opt for fresh goat cheeses such as picodon or Saint-Marcellin. For a more original pairing, try candied chestnuts or a chestnut mousse.

Serving and cellaring

Version Longue 2021 is best enjoyed at a temperature of 12°C, allowing its aromas to fully express themselves while preserving its signature freshness. This wine has aging potential of around fifteen years, during which it will continue to develop complexity while maintaining its balance.

A Rhône Valley white combining elegance and minerality

The estate

Founded in 1989, Domaine François Villard has established itself as a benchmark in the Northern Rhône Valley. A former chef who turned to viticulture after training in sommellerie and then oenology, François Villard began his journey with four hectares of fallow land in Condrieu. Today, the estate spans forty hectares of estate-owned vineyards, complemented by grape purchases from trusted growers. Based in Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, François Villard—who still personally runs the estate—stands out for his remarkable stylistic evolution, shifting from an opulent approach to a quest for elegance and balance. Certified organic since 2022, the estate farms its vines by hand on slopes that can reach up to sixty percent gradient. François Villard vinifies cuvées from six different appellations in the Rhône Valley, demonstrating his mastery of Northern terroirs.

The vineyard

Version Longue comes from the Saint-Péray appellation, the southernmost winegrowing area of the Northern Vallée du Rhône, located in the Ardèche department. This appellation is devoted exclusively to the production of white wines made from the marsanne and roussanne grape varieties. The Saint-Péray terroir offers exceptional geological complexity, the result of several successive eras. The soils combine decomposed granite from the Massif Central, Jurassic limestone from the Crussol mountain, marine-origin clay-limestone soils, and Quaternary loess deposits enriched by Rhône alpine alluvium. This geological mosaic gives the wines distinctive minerality and great complexity. The Version Longue vines, around twenty years old, are rooted in soils composed of decomposed granite and clay, providing mineral structure and aging potential respectively.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage proved particularly demanding across French vineyards. Winter was marked by a rare and severe frost episode affecting many wine regions. A milder spring allowed flowering at the end of May, followed by particularly rainy June and July. Weather instability continued from mid-July to mid-August. Despite these challenging conditions, the late harvesting practiced by François Villard and his rigorous grape selection made it possible to obtain fruit at optimal ripeness, combining quality and freshness.

Vinification and aging

This Version Longue 2021 benefited from eighteen months of aging on fine lees in French oak barrels. The proportion of new oak was limited to 35%, with the remaining 65% aged in one-wine or older barrels. This measured approach to new oak reflects François Villard’s current philosophy, favoring the expression of fruit and terroir over a pronounced oaky imprint. The extended lees contact helped develop complex secondary aromas through yeast autolysis, while preserving the wine’s freshness and floral character thanks to gentle handling and limited racking.

Grape variety

100% marsanne