Francois Villard - Crozes-Hermitage 2020
Price: $34.99
Producer | Francois Villard |
Country | France |
Region | Rhone |
Varietal | Syrah |
Vintage | 2020 |
Sku | 16259 |
Size | 750ml |
The wines from Francois Villard strike an interesting balance… he harvests later than most of his neighbors, and his wines are definitely not “restrained”. Yet, by utilizing whole clusters and little new oak, he manages to balance the fruit. As Josh Raynolds of Vinous comments, “he has pulled off the neat trick of capturing the opulence of the fruit while retaining energy.”
It all starts with the aromas… by gosh, they are so seductive… smoky, dark blackberry fruit with a whiff of violets and… hmmm… no lie… bacon. I could spend all evening with my nose in the glass… Okay, that’s a lie. But you know what I mean! Then the first sip… trust me, you’re going to be hooked. This is unlike any Syrah you have had from Australia, California or anywhere else. Sure, there’s the black raspberry and cassis fruit, but it stands equal with the savory flavors of wild herbs, violets and… again, there it is… bacon. Vibrant acidity and fine tannins make this a food pairing dream, too. Right now, you can just fire up the grill and let er rip... this gem is equally at home with red or white meats - so grab everyone's favorite and cook them up! Oh, and Easter Lamb... coming soon...
Vinous Media: 92 Points
“Brilliant violet color. Smoke-accented aromas of cherry, blackberry, violet and olive show very good freshness and are joined by a spicy nuance that builds in the glass. Silky in texture and sharply focused, offering spice-laced red and blue fruit flavors and a deeper licorice note. The peppery quality comes back on the long, clinging finish that's shaped by discreet, even tannins.” Vinous
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