2023 Cave Yves Cuilleron Saint-Joseph Le Lombard

Although virtually all the grapes from the major French wine regions are planted elsewhere in the world, some have somehow been overlooked. This is certainly true for the grape in this wine: Marsanne. Marsanne is renowned for its contribution to, for example, one of the Rhône's greatest white wines, Hermitage Blanc. Its rarity elsewhere can perhaps be explained by its rather austere character, always with some noticeable acidity, and also by the fact that it's not a grape that produces "fruity" wines, and fruity wines are very much in vogue. On the other hand, ripely harvested Marsanne produces beautiful wines with tremendous depth and concentration, as Cuilleron also demonstrates with this wine. It is made from forty-year-old vines from a few beautiful plots in the east-southeast. The wine is fermented in oak barrels and aged for 10 months in barrels. The grapes are harvested slightly overripe, giving the wine a powerful and concentrated character. It can be drunk young, but can also easily be aged for ten years. A superb glass of white wine.

The Saint-Joseph Le Lombard has a bright golden yellow colour in the glass. On the nose the wine has a powerful aroma with notes of nuts, honey, and apricot. On the palate this white Marsanne is full-bodied and intense, with plenty of power, even some plumpness, as well as minerals and acidity, depth and intensity, wonderfully broad and complex.
Yves Cuilleron represents the third generation of winemakers. Cave Cuilleron has existed since 1920. In 1987, the estate came into Yves' hands through his grandfather and uncle. Along with François Villard, Yves Cuilleron is now one of the most talented winemakers in the northern Rhône. Wine Spectator calls him the leader of the new generation of winemakers in Condrieu. Most of his vineyards are located in and around Chavanay, just south of Condrieu. In total, he owns 59 hectares spread across Saint Joseph (Blanc), Saint Joseph (Rouge), Côte-Rôtie, and Condrieu.

Yves has an important motto: pick the grapes as ripe as possible! He's a foodie who loves good food and "Les Vins Gourmand." This is reflected in his wines. He makes his wines "100% maison." For each plot or type of wine, he maintains the Cuilleron style of the respective cuvée, without compromise. However, nothing is set in stone for him. He works with intuition and experience, constantly observing and adjusting. He selects the fruit from both older and younger vines. He does the same with the different plots. He only blends different plots if there are sufficient synonyms or complementary characteristics.

Yves follows his own path in winemaking. He doesn't follow trends. He doesn't work conventionally, organically, or biodynamically, but rather according to his own philosophy, focused on obtaining healthy grapes. He observes constantly to be able to intervene in time. For 20 years, he has been working sustainably according to la lutte raisonnée—a sensible way of making wine without pesticides and artificial fertilizers. In the cellar, he works with natural yeasts and prefers to use older barrels and barriques instead of steel tanks.