Domaine François Villard - Crozes-Hermitage - Nobilis Semita - Red - 2022

Wine:

Crafted from an exclusive blend, the 2022 Red Crozes-Hermitage Nobilis Semita makes the most of this generous vintage. It opens with gorgeous smoky notes—think grilled bacon and cured meat—layered over a core of wild blackberry. The structure is dense and focused, framed by fine, tight-knit tannins, with a delicate violet note lingering on the finish. It’s a textbook Crozes-Hermitage in the Villard style: confident, savoury, and built to soften beautifully over the next couple of years. Rated 93/100 by our Selection Committee.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. 100% whole grapes, fermented in stainless steel vats for 8 days. Aged for 9 months, mainly in truncated cone-shaped vats and the rest in 228-litre Burgundy barrels, then for 9 months in stainless steel vats. Production of 6000 bottles.

Color:

Dark red with a few purple highlights.

Nose:

Marked by syrah, beautiful smoky accents of bacon and smoked bacon on a background of wild blackberries.

Palate:

The palate is dense and focused, driven by perfectly ripe fruit flavours—blackberry, plum, and a hint of black cherry. It delivers a generous, structured mouthfeel, with fine, tightly knit tannins and a delicate violet note on the finish.

Temperature:

Decant and serve between 14 and 16°C in a large glass.

Food and wine pairing:

Peppered prime rib, leg of lamb, roast Bresse pigeon with spices and sweet paprika.

Cellar aging:

From today until 2034.

A leading figure of the Rhône Valley, François Villard is one of the region’s most iconic names. A passionate self-taught winemaker, he’s known for harvesting at perfect ripeness and crafting bold, flavour-packed wines with clarity and depth.

Driven by boundless energy and curiosity, he never stops experimenting—refining his oak aging techniques and exploring every corner of the Rhône. The result? His cuvées have become some of the most compelling expressions of their appellations today.