Jean-Baptiste Souillard, Viognier, 2022
Why We Like It
‘Incredible. MUST BUY!’
Jean Baptiste Souillard’s Viognier is the wine to which this particularly emphatic tasting note refers… and the rest of his wines aren’t exactly lacklustre either.
When you do a little digging, it becomes clear why these bottles are quite so inspiring; this vigneron takes his winemaking incredibly seriously. With six winemaking diplomas to his name and vintages at Latour in Bordeaux and Comte Armand in Burgundy (with Benjamin Leroux), Jean Baptiste is obviously a serious winemaker.
It’s the time spent in Burgundy that defines the approach he refers to as the ‘Cistercian Method’, i.e. one plot, one wine. Since 2014, this approach has led him to become a micro-negotiant sourcing grapes from excellent plots in Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Peray and Cornas amongst others, focusing on granite soils to ensure he gets concentrated fruit, not necessarily found on other terroirs. He also makes VdF Viognier and Syrah blends that act as a fantastic entry point to the Souillard style.
The winemaking, as you would expect, focuses on quality of fruit and place with ageability firmly in mind. Fermentation in stainless steel and ageing in neutral oak are the norm. The reds are predominantly whole cluster to retain their vibrancy, pressing is gentle and filtration minimal, so as not to obstruct the full character of the wine.
What To Expect
Still made with the same skill and attention as his single parcels, the single varietal blends are a fantastic entry point to Jean-Baptiste’s wines. This is an exceptionally elegant Viognier, not about overblown richness, but about restraint. Focusing on the floral and mineral character of the variety, Jean-Baptiste coaxes a wonderfully elegant apricot scented wine out of the granite soils of the southern Ardeche using gentle pressing and 12 months ageing in seasoned oak.
Viognier / 13% / Rhone, France / 75cl
Why We Like It
‘Incredible. MUST BUY!’
Jean Baptiste Souillard’s Viognier is the wine to which this particularly emphatic tasting note refers… and the rest of his wines aren’t exactly lacklustre either.
When you do a little digging, it becomes clear why these bottles are quite so inspiring; this vigneron takes his winemaking incredibly seriously. With six winemaking diplomas to his name and vintages at Latour in Bordeaux and Comte Armand in Burgundy (with Benjamin Leroux), Jean Baptiste is obviously a serious winemaker.
It’s the time spent in Burgundy that defines the approach he refers to as the ‘Cistercian Method’, i.e. one plot, one wine. Since 2014, this approach has led him to become a micro-negotiant sourcing grapes from excellent plots in Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Peray and Cornas amongst others, focusing on granite soils to ensure he gets concentrated fruit, not necessarily found on other terroirs. He also makes VdF Viognier and Syrah blends that act as a fantastic entry point to the Souillard style.
The winemaking, as you would expect, focuses on quality of fruit and place with ageability firmly in mind. Fermentation in stainless steel and ageing in neutral oak are the norm. The reds are predominantly whole cluster to retain their vibrancy, pressing is gentle and filtration minimal, so as not to obstruct the full character of the wine.
What To Expect
Still made with the same skill and attention as his single parcels, the single varietal blends are a fantastic entry point to Jean-Baptiste’s wines. This is an exceptionally elegant Viognier, not about overblown richness, but about restraint. Focusing on the floral and mineral character of the variety, Jean-Baptiste coaxes a wonderfully elegant apricot scented wine out of the granite soils of the southern Ardeche using gentle pressing and 12 months ageing in seasoned oak.
Viognier / 13% / Rhone, France / 75cl
Why We Like It
‘Incredible. MUST BUY!’
Jean Baptiste Souillard’s Viognier is the wine to which this particularly emphatic tasting note refers… and the rest of his wines aren’t exactly lacklustre either.
When you do a little digging, it becomes clear why these bottles are quite so inspiring; this vigneron takes his winemaking incredibly seriously. With six winemaking diplomas to his name and vintages at Latour in Bordeaux and Comte Armand in Burgundy (with Benjamin Leroux), Jean Baptiste is obviously a serious winemaker.
It’s the time spent in Burgundy that defines the approach he refers to as the ‘Cistercian Method’, i.e. one plot, one wine. Since 2014, this approach has led him to become a micro-negotiant sourcing grapes from excellent plots in Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Peray and Cornas amongst others, focusing on granite soils to ensure he gets concentrated fruit, not necessarily found on other terroirs. He also makes VdF Viognier and Syrah blends that act as a fantastic entry point to the Souillard style.
The winemaking, as you would expect, focuses on quality of fruit and place with ageability firmly in mind. Fermentation in stainless steel and ageing in neutral oak are the norm. The reds are predominantly whole cluster to retain their vibrancy, pressing is gentle and filtration minimal, so as not to obstruct the full character of the wine.
What To Expect
Still made with the same skill and attention as his single parcels, the single varietal blends are a fantastic entry point to Jean-Baptiste’s wines. This is an exceptionally elegant Viognier, not about overblown richness, but about restraint. Focusing on the floral and mineral character of the variety, Jean-Baptiste coaxes a wonderfully elegant apricot scented wine out of the granite soils of the southern Ardeche using gentle pressing and 12 months ageing in seasoned oak.
Viognier / 13% / Rhone, France / 75cl
