François Villard : Certitude 2021

Tasting characteristics and advice for the Certitude 2021 by François Villard

Tasting

Appearance

The wine displays a deep ruby color with violet highlights, reflecting both its youth and the concentration of the grapes.

Nose

The nose opens with vibrant aromas of red fruits, notably raspberry, redcurrant, and cherry. These fruity notes are joined by nuances of wild herbs, garrigue, and violet, typical of Syrah grown in a cool climate. With aeration, spicy hints of white pepper and licorice add complexity, while a subtle minerality reminiscent of crushed stone and graphite appears in the background.

Palate

The attack is generous and inviting, with no aggressive tannic edge. The mid-palate unfolds with lovely depth, carrying lingering red-fruit flavors alongside dried herbs, smoky notes, and precise minerality. The tannins are elegant and fine, providing an architectural structure without dominating the sensory impression. The silky, supple texture reflects whole-cluster vinification and carefully measured aging. The moderate alcohol at 12.5% brings warmth without heaviness. The finish lingers elegantly on mineral and herbal notes.

Food and wine pairings

This Crozes-Hermitage pairs ideally with Lyon-style pâtés, thyme-scented lamb chops, game terrines, coq au vin, or semi-aged cheeses such as Saint-Félicien.

Serving and cellaring

Certitude 2021 can be enjoyed now or cellared until around 2036. It will show its full potential after eight to ten years of aging.

An elegant, balanced Crozes-Hermitage from the Rhône Valley

The estate

Founded in 1989 by François Villard, the estate now spans around forty-five hectares of estate-owned vineyards in the Northern Rhône Valley. A former chef who became a sommelier and then a self-taught winemaker, François Villard has had a profound impact on the region’s renaissance since the 1990s. Certified organic since 2022, the estate crafts wines renowned for their elegance, freshness, and authentic expression of terroir across the Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, and Crozes-Hermitage appellations. François Villard has refined his style toward greater finesse and minerality, favoring intensity without heaviness.

The vineyard

Certitude comes from several plots located on the Chassis plateau within the Crozes-Hermitage appellation, notably in the communes of Chanos-Curson, Beaumont-Monteux, and Mercurol. The soils are composed of rounded pebbles mixed with sand and clay, providing excellent drainage while retaining a moderate water-holding capacity. The vines, averaging around fifteen years of age, are planted at a density of 5,500 vines per hectare. The south to southwest exposure promotes optimal sunlight. Yields are deliberately limited to forty-five hectoliters per hectare to ensure concentration and balance. Vineyard management follows organic farming principles, without herbicides or synthetic chemical treatments.

The vintage

The 2021 vintage stands out for its elegance and freshness. After a winter marked by a severe frost episode, spring allowed flowering at the end of May. June and July were particularly rainy, followed by weather instability from mid-July to mid-August. This vintage favors finesse and acidity over power, offering appealing aging potential.

Vinification and aging

The Certitude 2021 harvest was carried out by hand using whole bunches, with 55% whole-cluster fruit left unstemmed. Fermentation took place over about ten days in open wooden vats and stainless-steel tanks, using indigenous yeasts and controlled temperatures to preserve aromatic freshness. Aging lasted sixteen months in total: twelve months in French oak barrels (80% used barrels and 20% new barrels), followed by six months in stainless-steel tanks. Sulfite additions were kept to a minimum. Bottling took place in March 2024.

Grape variety

100% Syrah