The Domaine Yves Cuilleron, located in Chavanay, runs 70 hectares of vineyards spread over 5 designations : Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Saint-Joseph, Saint-Péray and Cornas. It also produces wines under Crozes-Hermitage's designation for which the winemaker buys the grapes.
The winemaker Yves Cuilleron is particularly proud in having given back to the Condrieu et Côte-Rôtie vineyards their fame : the extreme slopes roughness made the work so difficult without any mechanization, that the vineyard had been gradually abandoned during the previous century.
In the vineyard, Yves Cuilleron pays particular attention to the vegetative cycle, practicing leaf removal and green harvest that allows a maximum aeration of the bunches and thus a decrease in their diseases sensitivity. Viticulture is made according the sustainable cultivation methods, the chemicals treatments are reduced to the maximum, no insecticide is used. As he says himself, his philosophy is to "produce the most beautiful grapes as possible" for wines that have a soul, and it begins with the first vineyard's work.
In the cellar, manually harvested grapes are sorted carefully, alcoholic fermentations take place with the native yeasts, without any oenological products addition, and under temperature control.
For white wines, the grapes are pressed, the juice is decanted after a 24 hours settling, and the alcoholic and malolactic fermentations take place directly in barrels. The must is then aged on lees for 9 months with regular stirring. The juice is then slightly filtered before bottling.
For the red wines, the manual harvest is partially destalked, and the alcoholic fermentation takes place in open vats for about three weeks with regular punchings. The ageing occurs in barrels for 18 months. The juice is not filtered but fined with egg white before bottling.
In order to produce wines identified by their terroir, the vinification is separated : the old vines grapes are vinified on one side, the young vines grapes on the other side, and the plots grapes apart. It is only at the end of the vinification process that the blend of the different vats takes place - or not -, after tasting and according to the principle of "a wine-a style".
- Nose: tasty and vanilla-flavoured. Notes of red and black fruit with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon.
- Palate: round and fluid.
Tasting date: November 2023.
OUR OPINION: a rather discreet and fruity vintage. It is less full-bodied than the previous vintages and more suited to lovers of light wines.
- Nose: intense and delicious. Notes of black fruit and spices.
- Palate: supple, silky and fruity.
Tasting date: November 2023.
OUR OPINION: a fresh and delicious vintage, very good!
- Nose: delicious and delicately spicy. Notes of black pepper, red and black fruit, with a hint of cinnamon and blackcurrant bud.
- Palate: round and silky. Lingering finish of red berries.
Tasting date: November 2023.
OUR OPINION: 2021 is a fruity, delicious vintage. Less full-bodied than previous vintages, it offers a lovely freshness and a pleasantly fragrant finish.
Other vintage available:
- Nose: intensely perfumed. Notes of white peaches, kiwi, lemon, ginger with a touch of mango.
- Palate: ample and tasty. Rich texture.
Tasting date: October 2022.
OUR OPINION: this vintage is rich, it offers a nice juice in the palate with tasty aromas, but is a little less tonic than its predecessor. It will be served a little fresher than usual.
Other available vintage:
- Nose: intensely fruity. Notes of yellow peaches, mango, passion fruit with a hint of liquorice.
- Palate: round, unctuous and tasty. A candy. Very good length. Finishes on honey.
Tasting date: October 2022.
OUR OPINION: superb! A Viognier as I like it, full, expressive and rich in flavours!
- Nose: fresh and floral. Slight toasted notes opening on white flowers, pear and white grapefruit scents.
- Palate: ample. Rich and tasty texture. Nice aromatic persistence in the finish.
Tasting date: October 2022.
OUR OPINION: it is the marsanne that expresses itself the most in this vintage which offers a more floral profile than its predecessor. This wine has a nice texture and I appreciate its long fresh finish supported by the roussanne. This vintage needs to be served slightly cooler than usual.
- Nose: slightly peaty. Notes of coffee and ripe black fruits
- Palate: tight structure. Tannins are fine but present.
Tasting date: February 2021.
OUR OPINION: 1 or 2 extra years of cellar aging will allow the tannins to round off.
The 2018 vintage has a slightly more animal profile than the 2017.
Other available vintage:
- Nose: powerful. Aromas of blueberry, blackberry and raspberry which give way to fragrances of roasted coffee and spices, with a hint of violet.
- Palate: supple, round and delicious, with a hint of vanilla on the finish.
Tasting date: November 2021.
OUR OPINION: magnificent Saint-Joseph, rich, dense and concentrated.
- Nose: intense and concentrated. Blackberry and blueberry, black pepper and coffee with a hint of bay leaf.
- Palate: beautiful juice, full and delicately structured by fine tannins.
Tasting date: April 2021.
OUR OPINION: a very fine vintage, to be kept in the cellar for a few extra years.
- Nose: intense and fragrant. Sweet notes of yellow peaches, white flowers, lychees and mangoes, with a hint of cream.
- Palate: elegant, suave, lively and intensely scented with a slightly creamy finish.
Tasting date: February 2021.
OUR OPINION: Very good!
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