Cave Yves Cuilleron 'Les Vignes d'a Cote' Marsanne 2022

Without doubt one of the star names of Rhône viticulture Yves Cuilleron took over the reins of his family estate in 1987. He now owns and leases over 75 hectares of top quality vineyards. From his base in Chavanay, just south of Condrieu he has built up a formidable reputation in recent years and is always developing new ideas and cuvées which, virtually without exception, are all wonderful and very much in his signature style - lingering, rich white wines and big rich minerally reds.

Yves is a driven man with a growing family, a part share with other top growers in vineyards on the eastern side of the Rhône, and a fantastic new cellar, purpose-built and temperature controlled. All his stylish AOP whites spend 9 months in barriques on the lees with regular bâtonnage. The St Joseph Blanc Lyseras is Marsanne and Roussanne. The Condrieu ‘Les Chaillets’ is his old vines cuvée and named after the local terraces. The reds are equally consistent and impressive. The St Joseph Rouge ‘Pierres Sèches’ (named after the dry stone walls built by hand on the terraces) is a favourite spending 16 months in barriques and offering layers of seductive, silky fruit.