Description

50% Syrah, 50% Tannat. Vineyard With my friend, Simon Forgue, winemaker in Jurançon, we wanted to unite the two red grape varieties of our respective regions: • Tannat from south-east facing hillsides in the town of Madiran, • Syrah from the plateaux of the commune of Condrieu. Terroir Clay-limestone soil and pebbles for the Tannat and granite sand for the Syrah.

Vinification Plots harvested manually. Vinification in stainless steel vats. Maceration three weeks. Terracotta jar for Tannat. 500 liter barrel for Syrah. Alcoholic degree 13.5% vol. Tasting Very good match between the fine fruit of the Syrah and the fine structure of the Tannat.

Although a native of Chavanay (next village to Condrieu), Julien is not from a winemaking family. After wine college, he travelled widely, producing wine in both the Roussillon and Spain, as well as working for local champions Cuilleron, Gaillard and Pierre-Jean Villa. “My wife and I decided to return to Chavanay. I’ve always had a special attraction for whites of the region and so decided on a different approach from others. I strive to produce Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier with flesh but with maximum freshness too. I want to make balanced and precise whites.” So, in 2010, Julien started crafting a range of micro-négoce wines, from local sources. Five years later, Pilon is producing some of the most exciting Rhône whites – wines of genuine flair and class – and attracting excitable attention from both critics and other importers.

“ This has definitely become a domaine to watch. The wines are very much in the image of the vigneron too – understated, stylish and relying more on nuance than overt power” W I N E SPECTATOR