Julien Pilon ‘de L’Autre Rive’ Syrah, Vin de Pays Collines Rhodaniennes, Rhône Valley 2021

• Winemaker: Juilen Pilon
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Variety: Syrah
• Terroir: Soils of granite and white stone gravel in terraced vineyards that experience some of France’s coldest winters and hottest summers. The Monts du Lyonnaise lie to the north and are responsible in part for the cold spring wind Le Mistral, creating the high-octane acidity found here. The sun is the major player in this wine growing region where vines (mostly on the western side of The Rhone River) get direct eastern and southeastern sun exposure throughout the growing season.
• Vinification: Hand harvested Syrah grapes are fully destemmed and manually crushed. Fermentation takes place over three weeks in open top stainless casks
• Aging: 18 months in small barrels
• Tasting Note: A beautifully complex example of Northern Rhone syrah with classic red fruit flavors and a prickly element of spice. Velveteen tannins and gripping acid highlight the sensation on the tongue. Raspberries and plums roll around in the cool, minty medley of secondary flavors. Enjoy with lamb or friends or both.

From our 2023 Bottle Club Notes:

Julien Pilon ‘de L’Autre Rive’ Syrah, VdP Collines Rhodaniennes, Rhône Valley 2021

Julien Pilon traveled a long road to become a self-made man in the Rhone Valley. After years of making wine under the tutelage of southern France's most lauded vintners, Julien sought to find his own land to farm in his native northern Rhone. But in a wine region where many have a generational stake in the land, pricing was prohibitive to the newcomer, and in 2010 he eventually settled on purchasing grapes in exchange for work. While vinifying tiny lots in his parent's garage, Julien grew his name by focusing on terroir-driven wines made with care and precision. Soon after, he met a neighboring winegrower in Condrieu who allowed him to use his cellar space and grow his production.

Nearly ten years later, in 2020, Julien had finally raised enough capital to start construction on a winery of his own, and today has amassed a small handful of his own vines while continuing to produce white and red wines from other trusted vineyard sources throughout the area. His red wines capture the most delicious and satisfying components of Northern Rhône Syrah. The Syrah included in this month's explorer club is a brambly, warming expression of Syrah sourced from soils of granite and white stone gravel. The vines are planted in terraced vineyards that experience some of France’s coldest winters and hottest summers. The Monts du Lyonnaise lie to the north and are responsible in part for the cold spring wind Le Mistral, creating the high acidity found in the wines here. The sun is the major player in this wine-growing region though, providing the power and concentration that is famously associated with the wines of the northern Rhône. Velveteen tannins and gripping acid highlight this beautifully complex example of Northern Rhone syrah, with a classic red fruit profile and a prickly element of spice of sumac and lavender. Raspberries and plums roll around in the cool, minty medley of secondary flavors. Enjoy it with roasted lamb and roast fennel or wine-braised short ribs with polenta and of course a few good friends. — Simi Grewal