TN: 2010 François Villard St. Joseph Mairlant

[craig_v]

• 2010 François Villard St. Joseph Mairlant - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (1/8/2015)
  If push came to shove I could be happy drinking nothing else from the northern Rhone than these sneaky good St Josephs made by small traditionalist like Francois Villard. This was even great just as PnP into a BDX glass tonight. I think blind in a batch of big gun NRs this would stand out for its typacity, vineyard transparency balance and honesty. I believe it only sees 10% new oak. Alc is only 13% in a great ripe vintage! Dark ruby, great concentration & NR character starting right off with a big peppery beefy nose. Perfect structure and vibrance yet the tannins are 98% in check. This will likely be even more amazing in 10yrs or so but terrific now. Paid $30, drinks like 3X that. I’ll selectively buy more of these honest old school St Joseph instead of $100+ oak burdened monsters the critics slobber over. (91 pts.)

Posted from CellarTracker

[Brad_B_a_l_l_i_n_g_e_r]

Where did you get this? I love Villard’s Condrieu wines, but haven’t seen them around here in a loooooong time.

[Ramon_C]

Has his style changed? His reds (earlier tgan 2010 vintage) had always struck me to be on the fruity, oak-driven, modern types

[Mark_A]

@Brad B a l l i n g e r

Where did you get this? I love Villard’s Condrieu wines, but haven’t seen them around here in a loooooong time.

+1

[DougS]

@Ramon Cabrera

Has his style changed? His reds (earlier tgan 2010 vintage) had always struck me to be on the fruity, oak-driven, modern types

I was wondering the same thing.

[DougS]

I just looked up some tech sheets and oak varies a lot by bottling. This one sees only 10% new oak, while some others see 50%. Beyond that I don’t know what the differences are.

[craig_v]

I only know what I drank which was a wine with only 13% AlC and no signs of wood. Absolutely nothing over the top or modern about this btl.

[craig_v]

Envoyer, they have lots of value gems like this from the; Rhone, Burgundy and Champagne.

@Brad B a l l i n g e r

Where did you get this? I love Villard’s Condrieu wines, but haven’t seen them around here in a loooooong time.

[DougS]

@craig v

I only know what I drank which was a wine with only 13% AlC and no signs of wood. Absolutely nothing over the top or modern about this btl.

I wasn’t doubting you; I was just surprised. I see now that it’s because I am not familiar with Villard’s entire range. This one sounds like it would be right up my alley.

[Michae1_P0wers]

2010 is such a nice vintage too. The best of a good run IME.

[craig_v]

Wish we had access to stores in MA. I see some hard to find Burgs pop on CT now and again.

@Doug Schulman

@craig v

I only know what I drank which was a wine with only 13% AlC and no signs of wood. Absolutely nothing over the top or modern about this btl.

I wasn’t doubting you; I was just surprised. I see now that it’s because I am not familiar with Villard’s entire range. This one sounds like it would be right up my alley.