Francois Villard, Cote-Rotie, Le Gallet Blanc 2014
Francois Villard started his career as a sommelier, before he turned to winemaking. He planted vines in 1989, with the help of Yves Cuilleron and made the jump to producing wine from a combination of his own vineyards and purchased grapes in 1991.
Francois Villard Le Gallet Blanc found the inspiration for the wine and its name from 2 growers that Francois Villard purchases grapes from, Mr. Gallet and Mr. Blanc. The wine is produced from mostly Syrah and just a dollop of Viognier, up to perhaps 1% or 2% of the blend. The grapes are planted in the lieux-dits of; Cote Bodin, Le Grand Taillis, Fontjean, le Plomb, Montlys and Servonniere on a steep granite and schist hillside terroir. The berries are whole cluster fermented and up to 30% of the grapes are destemmed. The wine is then aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for up to 18 months before bottling.