Pierre-Jean Villa : Jardin Suspendu 2020

An elegant and mineral Condrieu

The estate

Passionate about wine, Pierre-Jean Villa began his career by marketing Burgundy wines and then, from 1992, managed the production and marketing of major Burgundy estates such as Mommessin and Clos de Tart. In 2003, he joined the Vins de Vienne estate in the Rhône Valley, a venture launched in 1996 by Yves Cuilleron, Pierre Gaillard and François Villard. In 2009, Pierre-Jean Villa created his own estate in the heart of his native town, Chavanay, on the steep terraces of Saint-Joseph and Condrieu, with the ambition of producing great wines expressing the richness of these terroirs with authenticity and accuracy, along with winemaker ethics. The wines produced by Pierre-Jean Villa, "one of the most gifted winemakers of his generation" according to Bettane & Desseauve, are recognised for their freshness, their delicacy, their finesse and their extreme precision.

The vineyard

The vineyard covers a total area of 17 hectares on either side of the Rhône Valley, in the benchmark appellations of Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and the hillsides of Seyssuel. The vines are 30 years old on average. 

The wine

Once, the "hanging gardens" were used as vegetable gardens on the terraces of the estate. Their southern exposure allowed the vegetables to ripen early. Today, the vines planted there produce wines that have the aromatic characteristics of the vegetables grown in the past, as seen in this Condrieu 2020 from Pierre-Jean Villa.

The vintage

In 2020, extreme temperatures and heatwaves in August led the vines to draw on their reserves. The harvest began early in August, as it did in the extremely hot summer of 2003, and lasted a total of three weeks. The vines were in perfect health. The acidity coupled with a reasonable level of alcohol produced intense, juicy and balanced wines.

Winemaking and ageing

Vinification was done with whole grapes, with the stalks on the bunches. Cold settling took place for 12 to 24 hours. The alcoholic fermentation was carried out without hindrance and in stoneware demi-muids and jars. Malolactic fermentation  was finished early, before the following year, which is quite rare for the estate. The wines are elegant and of great finesse. Pierre-Jean Villa's Jardin Suspendu 2020 was bottled after 12 months in demi-muids.

Blend

Viognier.

Characteristics and tasting tips for Jardin Suspendu 2020 from Pierre-Jean Villa

Tasting

Colour
This wine is of a lemon yellow colour.

Nose
Scents of yellow fruit and white flowers makes this wine delicious and fine.

Palate
This wine unveils an intense finesse and minerality as well as a good endurance on the palate.

Food and wine pairing  

Salmon or fresh trout go marvellously with this Jardin Suspendu 2020 from Pierre-Jean Villa.

To serve

Serve between 7 and 9°C.

Storage

Jardin Suspendu 2020 from Pierre-Jean Villa can be laid down until 2026 to release all its aromatic palette.