Francois Villard Les Contours de Deponcins Viognier

François Villard trained as a cook before settling in Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône in 1989 to build his own vineyard, which now covers 36 hectares across five crus. He has become one of the most respected growers in the Northern Rhône and is especially known for Condrieu, the home of Viognier. Les Contours de Deponcins is his Viognier from outside the Condrieu appellation. It is labeled under the regional Collines Rhodaniennes designation, and some vintages carry the broader Vin de France label. The name nods to Deponcins, one of his Condrieu bottlings. The wine is a way to taste Villard’s approach to the grape without Condrieu pricing. 2023 was a year of extremes in the Northern Rhône: a dry start, hail in places, a two week heatwave in August, and a violent storm on September 18. The northern end of the region, where Villard works, came through better than the southern sector, and the year’s whites showed intensity, freshness, and energy. This wine shows the full aromatic range of Viognier: ripe apricot, white peach, orange blossom, and a hint of sweet spice. The palate is generous and broad, yet dry, with enough freshness to carry the richness.