2022 Cave Yves Cuilleron Saint-Joseph Le Lombard

Although almost all grapes from the major French wine regions have been planted elsewhere in the world, some have somehow been 'skipped'. That certainly applies to the grape in this wine: the Marsanne. The Marsanne is famous for its contribution to, for example, one of the greatest white wines of the Rhône, Hermitage blanc. The fact that it is not often found elsewhere can be explained by its rather tight character, with always some clear acidity and also the fact that it is not a grape that produces 'fruity' wines, and fruity wines are completely 'in'. But on the other hand, ripe harvested marsanne produces beautiful wines, with great depth and concentration, as Cuilleron also shows with this wine. It is made from forty-year-old sticks from a few beautiful plots in the East-Southeast. The wine ferments in oak barrels and is aged in barrel for 10 months. The grapes are harvested a bit overripe, so that the wine is powerful and concentrated in character. It can be drunk young, but can also be stored for ten years without any problems. A great glass of white.

The Saint-Joseph Le Lombard has a bright golden yellow color in the glass. In the nose, the wine has a powerful scent with notes of nuts, honey, apricot. In the mouth, this white Marsanne is full bodied and intense, floury power, even some plumpness, but also minerals and acidity, depth and intensity, wonderfully broad and complex.
Yves Cuilleron represents the third generation of winemakers. Cave Cuilleron was founded in 1920. In 1987, the domain came into the hands of Yves through his grandfather and uncle. Together with François Villard, Yves Cuilleron is today one of the greatest talents in the northern Rhône. Wine Spectator calls him the leader of the new generation of winemakers in the Condrieu. Most of his vineyards are in and around Chavanay, just south of Condrieu. In total, it has 59 hectares divided between Saint Joseph (Blanc), Saint Joseph (Rouge), Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu.

Yves has an important slogan... picking grapes as ripe as possible! He is a gourmand who loves good food and 'Les Vins Gourmand'. You can also taste that in his wines. He makes his wines '100% maison'. For each plot or type of wine, he monitors the Cuilleron style of the relevant cuvée, without compromise. However, nothing is certain with him. He works on feeling, experience and continues to observe and adjust. He selects the fruit from the older and younger canes. He does the same with the different plots. He only blends different plots if there are enough synonyms or properties that complement each other.

In terms of winemaking, Yves goes his own way. He doesn't follow trends. He does not work conventionally, not organically and not biodynamically, but according to his own philosophy aimed at obtaining healthy grapes. He continuously observes in order to be able to intervene in time. He has been working sustainably for 20 years according to la lutte raisonnée; a sensible way of winemaking without pesticides and fertilizers. In the cellar he works with natural yeasts and prefers to use older casks and barriques instead of steel tanks.