We’ve been selling a few successive vintages of this now and it has become a go-to favorite for those looking for top value Northern Rhone Syrah. Highly Recommended Buy at C4

94 points WineAnorak.com

There's a bit of roast coffee and spice here, and some black cherry and raspberry fruit with nice grip. Tasty and structured with good acid and focus. 94/100

François Villard is one of the stars of the northern Rhône. He came to winegrowing after a career in restaurants, where he caught the wine bug and moved from chef to sommelier. He went full time as a winegrower in 1991, and was entirely self taught, although he has a close friendship with Yves Cuilleron. His domaine has gradually grown, as has the range he offers, and he now owns and sources from 30 hectares across five crus. François Villard was also one of the three winemakers involved with the Vins de Vienne project, who planted vines on the wrong side of the Rhône in Seyssuel, which has a Côte-Rôtie-like terroir and had been planted in ancient times. These wines are quite lovely, and he’s clearly moved away a bit from the modernist, new-oak-heavy style that he used to flirt with in the past. Instead, he's moved to less extractive winemaking. And he's using more whole cluster. 'For me it is important to get some energy in the mouth,' says Villard, 'We stopped punchdowns five years ago. We use short cuvasions. I disagree that short cuvaisons are for early drinking wines.'