François Villard : Deponcins 2022

Characteristics and tasting notes for the François Villard Condrieu "Deponcins" 2022

Tasting notes

Color
A bright pale gold hue appears in the glass, enhanced by delicate silvery highlights and beautiful clarity.

Nose
Highly intense, the aromatic bouquet reveals scents of ripe stone fruit such as white peach and apricot, intertwined with floral and honeyed notes. On aeration, subtle hints of candied citrus and exotic fruit, along with a flinty minerality, enrich this complex palette.

Palate
The attack is generous and full-bodied, offering a rich, velvety texture. This opulence is perfectly balanced by a lovely mineral tension and refreshing acidity. The remarkably long finish lingers on delicious notes of citrus zest with a hint of salinity.

Food and wine pairing

Ideal alongside pan-seared foie gras on gingerbread or a white asparagus risotto, this great white wine from France will also beautifully complement shellfish such as lobster, fine fish in creamy sauces, or a mature goat cheese like Rigotte de Condrieu.

Service and storage

With exceptional aging potential, this Condrieu "Deponcins" 2022 can be cellared and will develop beautifully until around 2037. For optimal tasting, it is recommended to store it in a dark place at a constant temperature between 12 and 14°C.

The elegance and mineral purity of a great Condrieu wine

The estate

Founded in 1989 by former chef François Villard, the eponymous estate has established itself as a major reference in the northern Rhône Valley. Starting from fallow land within the Condrieu appellation, the estate now spans more than forty hectares of organically farmed vines. Still at the helm of the estate, François Villard passionately crafts cuvées renowned for their balance, freshness, and remarkable expression of terroir, placing his work among the finest achievements in the region.

The vineyard

The "Deponcins" cuvée comes from the historic Poncins site, the birthplace of the estate located in the commune of Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, at the heart of the Condrieu appellation. The vines, around thirty years old, thrive on steep terraces facing south/southeast. This exceptional terroir, composed of micaceous granite soils, gives the grapes a unique mineral identity. Yields are deliberately limited to encourage optimal concentration in the berries.

Winemaking and aging

After manual harvesting with successive sorting passes, the grapes for this Condrieu "Deponcins" 2022 are pressed with great care. Fermentation takes place at low temperature using indigenous yeasts, in oak barrels, a quarter of which are new. Aging then continues for a total of sixteen months. The first six months take place on fine lees with daily stirring to add richness, followed by a resting period without intervention. The final four months of aging take place in stainless steel tanks to preserve the wine's full aromatic purity.

Grape variety

100% Viognier