Pierre Jean Villa Tilde Saint-Joseph 2022

Pierre Jean Villa didn’t inherit a large family estate – rather, he built his mighty reputation from scratch. Born and raised in Chavanay, Pierre Jean trained and worked in Burgundy in the ‘90s, including notable operations like Clos de Tart. In the early 2000s, he returned to the Rhône to join the collaborative Vins de Vienne project with Yves Cuilleron, François Villard, and Pierre Gaillard, earning a deep understanding of the area’s terroirs. Finally, in 2009, he launched his own domaine, starting truly independently on steep and challenging hillsides around Chavanay and Vérin. Now, he has about 17 hectares across several northern Rhône appellations and has been joined by his children in expanding his estate.

The 2022 Saint-Joseph Tilde bottling refers to Pierre Jean’s Spanish and French heritage – an ode to the curved accent on certain Spanish words, as well as the inscription stamped on objects in Old French. He calls this wine the signature of his work. The 100% Syrah comes from 40-year-old vines and similar soils as the Preface, getting partially destemmed and soaking for 20 days in stainless steel and demi-muids before aging 24 months in both traditional and demi-muid barrels. Notes of purple florals, salted plums, wild herbs, and teakwood display softness and power in perfect marriage. Only 50 cases imported stateside!

When we met Pierre Jean at the Wine Paris expo last year – and then tasted his wines – it was instant and true love. He’s one of those winemakers who emits sincere fervor for his craft and land, and everything about his wines shows it: organic and biodynamic viticulture, minimal intervention in the cellar, and thoughtful sourcing and farming methods. Though he’s decidedly under the radar, his estate is a secret we’ll happily share... just so long as you keep it on the down-low, as his wines could easily go for thrice the price if too many people catch wind.