Domaine Julien Pilon - Crozes-Hermitage - On The Rhône Again - Blanc - 2022

Wine:

True to the Northern Rhône Valley style, the 2022 white Crozes-Hermitage On the Rhône Again reveals a blossoming nose with a wonderfully expressive aromatic profile. Dominated by Marsanne, it features classic notes of honey, bitter almond, and acacia flower. The presence of stone fruit adds another layer, showcasing the grape's complexity in a beautifully textured wine with an intriguing bitter edge. This is a fine representation of a white wine from the Rhône Valley, exactly what one would expect from its stony, scree-like terroir. It pairs ideally with pike quenelles in Nantua sauce. Rated 92/100 by our Committee.

Vinification:

Hand-harvested, cold settling.
Aged on lees in barrels for 10 months, including 10% new oak.

Color:

Bright golden yellow.

Nose:

Beautifully complex, with aromas of yellow-fleshed fruit, acacia flowers and honey.

Palate:

Generous and rich, with beautifully ripe aromas of fruit, this cuvée is true to its appellation, releasing a consistent, well-refined body with mineral bitters on the finish.

Temperature:

Serve between 10 and 12°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Pike dumplings with Nantua sauce, veal blanquette, roast free-range chicken.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2029.

A rising star in the Rhône with a 1-star rating from RVF, Julien Pilon has captivated the most discerning wine enthusiasts, and his wines are now highly sought after. Trained by some of the greats (Yves Cuilleron, Pierre Gaillard, Pierre-Jean Villa, Mas Amiel), this winemaker employs advanced vinification techniques, deeply attuned to the nuances of his terroirs.

His wines, hailing from the finest appellations of Northern Rhône, delight those who appreciate freshness and purity. His whites are devilishly precise, and his reds are equally impressive! However, the flip side of success and limited quantities is, unfortunately, that sourcing them can be challenging…