Julien Cecillon, Saint Peray 'Gemini' 2023

£47.20

Saint-Péray stands alone in the Northern Rhône as the only appellation rooted in limestone soils, an exceptional terroir that shapes the unique character of its wines. Overlooking the valley, the ruins of Chateau de Crussol dominate the vineayrds, while the sheer limestone cliffs below hint at the elegance and tension found in the glass. Whites of profound caracter marked by an incomparable freshness.

Saint-Péray stands alone in the Northern Rhône as the only appellation rooted in limestone soils, an exceptional terroir that shapes the unique character of its wines. Overlooking the valley, the ruins of Chateau de Crussol dominate the vineayrds, while the sheer limestone cliffs below hint at the elegance and tension found in the glass. Whites of profound caracter marked by an incomparable freshness.

Julien is native from the region, coming from a winemaking family, nephew of excellent maker Jean Louis Grippat. He did not start his career in wine since his uncle sold the vineyards to Guigal in 1998. In his quest for a happy life, he ditched tailored suits and ties for overalls and wellies, making a U turn in 2008 and retrained. Nancy is from Houston, Texas. She started her winemaking life in Marlborough - New Zealand followed by Napa Valley. She then qualified and worked as a sommelier. They met in San Francisco. From two plots of vines in Saint Joseph, they have spread their wings a little further. They now produce wines in Saint Péray, Cornas, Saint Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage and a myriad of super tasty vin de pays. They are not resting on their laurels, caring for the land with the utmost respect for the environment and biodiversity. They have gained organic certification in 2022 and are applying biodynamic farming too.

Grape Varieties: Marsanne 70% Roussanne 30% Average Age of Vines: 35/40 years Vineyard/Plot Names: La Beylesse & Amour de Dieu Vineyard Surface Area: 0.5ha Terroir: Clay/Limestone Exposition: South/ South East Altitude: 200m Planting Density: 7500/ha Yield: 42Hl/ha Production: 2500 Winemaking: Native yeasts, vinified in oak Ageing: Oak Barrels for 11 months Alcohol: 13.2%