Francois Villard Saint-Joseph Poivre et Sol, Rhone, France 2022

Francois Villard was not born into wine; he started out his career as a chef. He grew up between Vienne and Grenoble, in the French countryside. He made his first Condrieu in 1991, a whopping 400 bottles. Today makes wine from 64 hectares, of which he owns 40 hectares, purchasing fruit from the balance. He makes wine from Côte-Rôtie down to Saint Peray, and a little of everything between: four Condrieu, five Saint-Joseph (red and white), three Crozes-Hermitage, a Cornas, and four Vin de France (Marsanne-Roussanne, Viognier, and two Syrah).

Ripe, spice-accented red and blue fruits on the nose, along with a building floral note. Juicy and open-knit, offering jammy cherry and boysenberry flavors and a savory touch of olive paste. Supple tannins come on late, adding gentle grip to a long, dark berry-and-spice-driven finish.