SOUILLARD ST JOSEPH 'JANOUNE' 2021

Jean-Baptiste Souillard is a winemaker from the Northern Rhone region in France, known for his meticulous approach to viticulture and vinification. His Roussanne vineyard, located in the southern part of the Ardèche, is planted on a steep east-facing slope with granite and sandstone soils at an elevation of 380-450 meters. Souillard practices lutte raisonnée, a sustainable approach to viticulture that minimizes chemical use. This cuvée blends old vine Syrah from a hilltop parcel planted in the early 1970s with younger vines from the 2000s replantings. The vineyard sits at 340 meters elevation atop the windswept Chatelet hill in the northern reaches of the Andance area. The mixed granite soils provide a distinctive mineral complexity and wildness to this northern Rhône Syrah. The old vines deliver depth and savoriness, while the young vines contribute vibrancy and freshness. Entirely de-stemmed with indigenous yeasts, the wine ferments gently, extracting lush fruit and supple tannins. After 13 months in neutral oak, it emerges with a seamless texture framing the explosive aromas and flavors of cracked pepper, smoked meat, violet, black raspberry and crushed rock. Structured yet energetic, this is a vivid expression of the rugged Chatelet terroir that will evolve with cellar aging.