JEAN-BAPTISTE SOUILLARD ST JOSEPH 'LE CHANAVAT' 2023

Jean-Baptiste Souillard founded his micro-négociant operation in 2014 in Andance after training at Château Latour and Comte Armand, working from his family's 1900 farmhouse to produce single-parcel Northern Rhône wines using sustainable viticulture. Le Chavanat comes from 1989-1990 vines in Saint-Étienne-de-Valoux planted on decomposed granite over brittle bedrock on southeast-facing terraced slopes that ripen early. Aged 18-20 months in used barrels with 40-60% whole clusters, this Syrah delivers savory flavors of cured meat, dried roses, black pepper, and mineral tension with bright acidity and firm structure that demands decanting and food pairing.