Description
Francois Villard Seul en Scene is from a site called Seyssuel that was historically considered as fine as Cote Rotie. In 1996 Francois Villard, Pierre Gaillard, and Yves Cuilleron planted 4 hecatres with the idea to make Seyssuel great again. Seyssuel is North of Cote Rotie and on the opposite bank. Its vineyards are steep south, southwest facing and sit on decomposed schists and quartz.
The Villard Seul en Scene is 100% Syrah, 100% whole bunch. It is fermented in oak and tank and aged in oak (20% new).
Villard Seul en Scene tastes like Rhone Syrah, but it is from a terroir that is distinctly different from what we know. As with everything from this estate, Villard Seul en Scene is well worth tasting and will improve in a good cellar.
Francois Villard Seul en Scene Vin de pays des Collines Rhodaniennes 2015, and all wines are eligible for at least 5% off any six bottles. And 10% off any 12 bottles. Some wines will be at a more significant discount and not subject to further discounts.
Francois Villard is a rising star of the Northern Rhone. Making wines from Viognier and Syrah left to ripen for longer than most and then rest in barrel for longer too. The wines have big flavours, firm structure and plenty of potential to age. Everything I’ve had from Francois Villard has been exciting, complex and authentic to the region.
I.G.P. Collines Rhodaniennes
Covers much of the viticultural area of the Northern Rhône. With less stringent rules than the A.O.C.s, this I.G.P. designation covers experimental wines that don’t meet appellation criteria, such as those produced with unauthorised grape varieties or wines that have residual sugar. The I.G.P. designation also includes wines made from fruit grown outside of the A.O.C. zones. Since the A.O.C.s cover only a narrow band of land along the borders of the Rhône, many producers have vineyard land that falls outside of the appellations. This includes some historically significant viticultural areas, such as the Vin de Vienne, that are being reclaimed and bottled as I.G.P. Collines Rhodaniennes.
Rhone Valley
One of the great wine regions in the world. Situated along the Rhone river in South-East France, there is a distinct divide between the Syrah dominant North where the Mistral wind cools and regulates the temperature and the hot lands in the South where Grenache is at its peak. The region produces everything from easy-going quaffers to wines that demand long-term cellaring. Whites can be outstanding such as Viognier made in Condrieu, and Rosé makes a fair impression too.
Shiraz/Syrah
A bit of a chameleon, Shiraz can change how it looks depending on the terroir and/or winemaker influence. The Syrah-based wines of Northern Rhone are dry and austere, while the Shiraz of Barossa is opulent and fleshy. A variety that lends itself to long aging but can be drunk at any time of its evolution.
French Wine
The land that so many New World (not European) wine producers look to emulate. To generalise about French wine, I would say it is savoury, lighter-bodied wine. They are the definition of elegant, complex. There are many styles, though. And there is a French wine for every palate. They lead the world in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Burgundy. Sparkling Wine in Champagne. Cabernet and Merlot in Bordeaux. Syrah(Shiraz) and Grenache in the Rhone Valley. Riesling, Gewurztraminer, and Pinot Gris in Alsace. Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc in the Loire Valley. Gamay in Beaujolais.
Wine
Wine is the result you get from fermented grape juice. There is proof of wine production dating back 8000 years ago. Fashions, innovations and many other factors have influenced the way wine has evolved over the years.
The wine grape is special. It contains everything you need to make grape wine except for the yeast, which lives on the outside of the skins.
Human inputs can influence the final product, including the viticulture (growing) choices. And the winemaker can shape the wine to a point too.
The best wines of the world often refer to terroir. Terroir is a French term that refers to all the climatic, geological and topographical influences on a specific piece of land. And it is true that neighbouring vineyards, grown identically, can taste noticeably different.
Red Wine
Fun fact; most of the colour for wines comes from the skins. There are only a handful of grapes that have red juice. Alicante is the most well known of these grapes.
By macerating the juice on the skins, the wine gains tannins and flavours. Certain compounds change the chemistry of the wine too.
Red wines tend to have higher alcohol. More tannin and more oak flavours compared to other styles of wine. But the thousands of grapes and terroirs they grow in influence this.
The Wine Depository
I, Phil, have been running The Wine Depository since 2011. The Wine Depository exists to make sure you are drinking the good wines. You can browse and pick what is interesting to you. Or you can make contact with me. I’ll make sure you get what you want, to your palate, to your budget and to your door.
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