2020 Julien Pilon “Rue des Poissonniers Arcane” Saint-Joseph, France

Hailing from the Rhone Valley, his path led him to apprenticeships with Yves Cuilleron and Olivier Decelle at the Mas Amiel estate in Maury, Roussillon. Venturing into Spain, he refined his craft in Banyuls alongside Pierre and Pascale Gaillard before returning to his origins. Julien purchased grapes and crafted his inaugural vintage in 2010, utilizing his parents' garage. His vision revolves around crafting wines that honour the distinctiveness of their terroir, emphasizing both depth and finesse.  In 2011, an opportunity arose, allowing him to acquire 1.5 hectares of vineyards, marking the beginning of the estate's expansion. This growth culminated in the establishment of his own winery in the summer of 2020, marking a significant milestone in Julien's winemaking journey. This wine is a 100% Syrah, from granite sands and all manually harvested. Aged for 12 months in barrels of 225l and 500l, 10% of which is new wood.  Why do we like it? Wine has a beautiful purple colour indicating ripeness but also depth. Nose is clean, perfumed and elegant all the way, palate is assertive, with notes of grounded black pepper, olive tapenade and black berries. A true classic Rhone wine. You can certainly decant this wine, drink now or keep for another 5 years with no problems Grape           Syrah Country        France                                  Region          St-Joseph                           Vintage         2020