Francois Villard Condrieu 'Les Terrases du Palat'

Francois Villard was not born into wine; he started out his career as a chef. He grew up between Vienne and Grenoble, in the French countryside. He made his first Condrieu in 1991, a whopping 400 bottles. Today, makes wine from 64 hectares, of which he owns 40 hectares, purchasing fruit from the balance. He makes wine from Côte-Rôtie down to Saint Peray, and a little of everything between: four Condrieu, five Saint-Joseph (red and white), three Crozes-Hermitage, a Cornas, and four Vin de France (Marsanne-Roussanne, Viognier, and two Syrah).

Les Terrases du Palat is produced from 25 year old Viognier vines and is fermented in barrel with native yeasts and then aged for 11 months in barrel. This one offers up a profound perfume of white peach nectar, baked pear, white flowers, and ginger. Ample in texture and just a beautiful white, it's one we highly recommend.