Pierre-Jean Villa : Esprit d'Antan 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for Pierre-Jean Villa's "Esprit d'Antan" 2022

Tasting notes

Colour
The glass reveals a deep ruby red hue, enhanced by brilliant violet highlights.

Nose
Beautifully intense, the bouquet reveals aromas of ripe black and red fruits such as cherry, raspberry, blackberry and blackcurrant. These are intertwined with delicate floral notes of violet, hints of sweet spices, black pepper and liquorice, all wrapped in a subtle smoky, mineral thread.

Palate
The attack is supple, giving way to a silky texture with great freshness. The tannic structure, both fine and elegant, offers superb architecture devoid of any harshness. The finish, persistent and bursting with fruit, lingers on savoury saline and peppery notes.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs beautifully with duck breast, beef cheek braised in red wine, or a lamb tagine with prunes. It will also brilliantly complement Mediterranean dishes with herbs, a charcuterie board or medium-intensity cheeses.

Service and storage

For optimal tasting, it is recommended to decant this "Esprit d'Antan" 2022 cuvée for about 30 to 60 minutes before serving at a temperature between 15 and 17°C. Approachable in its youth, this wine can also be cellared and enjoyed until around 2030.

The elegance and minerality of a great Rhône Valley wine

The estate

Founded from scratch in 2009, the estate of Pierre-Jean Villa quickly established itself as a key reference within the Rhône Valley, in France. Drawing on extensive experience gained in Burgundy and at Vins de Vienne, the winemaker now cultivates a 20-hectare vineyard spread across the region's finest terroirs. Now supported by his children Hugo and Pauline, Pierre-Jean Villa crafts authentic wines guided by a minimal-intervention philosophy, respect for soil life, and organically certified viticulture, currently transitioning to biodynamics.

The vineyard

Classified under IGP Collines Rhodaniennes, this cuvée comes from the historic terroir of Seyssuel, a former Roman winegrowing area located on the left bank of the river, north of Vienne. The vines thrive on soils dominated by quartz-rich schist. The vineyard is managed according to organic farming principles, with harvesting carried out exclusively by hand to carefully select the finest berries.

The vintage

2022 was marked by contrasting weather conditions. After a promising budburst and flowering, strong powdery mildew pressure required constant attention and targeted preventive treatments. Rigorous canopy management helped preserve aeration around the bunches. Variations in ripeness across the plots called for great flexibility, requiring multiple picking passes during harvest to gather the fruit at its perfect point of balance.

Winemaking and aging

Winemaking favours a natural approach with partial destemming and spontaneous fermentations triggered by indigenous yeasts. Macerations are carried out gently to preserve the elegance of the tannins. Aging then takes place over a period of 12 to 24 months, mainly in used oak barrels and wooden vats, so as not to mask the expression of the terroir. Finally, racking and bottling, generally without fining or filtration, are carried out following the lunar calendar.

Grape variety

Syrah (100%)