Pierre-Jean Villa : Esprit d'Antan 2023

Characteristics and tasting tips for the "Esprit d'Antan" 2023 by Pierre-Jean Villa

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a white hue.

Nose
The nose reveals an aromatic profile marked by floral notes and spicy touches, characteristic of the grape variety.

Palate
On the palate, the wine expresses a lovely freshness, preserved thanks to gentle extraction and strict temperature control during production.

The elegance of a Viognier from the historic terroir of the Collines Rhodaniennes by Pierre-Jean Villa

The estate

After gaining experience in Burgundy and taking part in the creation of Vins de Vienne, Pierre-Jean Villa founded his own estate in 2009. Located in Chavanay, in the Rhône Valley, the estate now spans around 17 to 18 hectares. The winemaker and current owner, now joined by his children Hugo and Pauline, cultivates his vines according to organic farming principles, with certification obtained in 2021. The estate stands out for its respectful approach to living organisms, incorporating agroforestry experiments and minimal-intervention winemaking to reveal the authenticity of each plot.

The vineyard

This wine comes from the IGP Collines Rhodaniennes, more specifically from the historic Seyssuel sector, located on the left bank of the river north of Vienne. This terroir, whose planting origins date back to Roman times, is characterized by slopes composed of schist covered with clay and quartz, resting on a granite bedrock. The vines, around ten years old, are planted at a density of 9,000 vines per hectare.

The vintage

The year 2023 began with a mild, dry spring, punctuated by a few rain showers that encouraged abundant flowering. However, the humidity and heat that followed led to significant fungal pressure, particularly mildew. In August, a heat spike accelerated berry ripening, prompting an earlier harvest than usual. Rainfall at the end of September finally refreshed the vines, offering optimal harvesting conditions.

Winemaking and aging

For the "Esprit d'Antan" 2023 cuvée, whole bunches are transported in crates directly to the press for gentle extraction, without crushing or skin maceration. The resulting juice undergoes cold settling for 24 hours to preserve aromatic compounds. Fermentation takes place under temperature control in various vessels, including 15-hectoliter tanks, half-barrels (demi-muids), and stoneware jars. Aging continues on fine lees for around 12 months, before blending is carried out six weeks prior to bottling.

Grape variety

100% Viognier