Jean-Baptiste Souillard is a hidden gem in the northern Rhône Valley. We’ve been visiting his cellar on and off since 2018, and it has always been one of the most memorable and insightful visits we make in France.After working with Benjamin Leroux and Jean-Luc Colombo, Souillard set up his tiny négoce project in 2014. Jean-Baptiste is what the French might call un homme sérieux, an old head on young shoulders. Drawing inspiration from the masters of the northern Rhône’s past, he uses traditional winemaking techniques—natural yeast, whole clusters and old oak vessels—to create a style of wine that reflects an old-school classicism that is increasingly hard to find in the region today. Focusing on cooler terroirs, the reds hail from a pinpoint selection of old-vine vineyards across the north. His Crozes-Hermitage and Saint-Joseph wines are particularly exciting, with seemingly switching personalities—the former unusually tense and sinewy, the latter more lifted and red-fruited. Barely reaching 13% in warmer years, the house signature is one of pared-back precision: a slow-burning Syrah built around layers of perfume, spice and mineral freshness.Souillard’s whites are equally impressive. He works with altitude, accurate picking and long, slow fermentations to create a range of more coiled and savoury wines than the norm. After partial crushing, Souillard allows for a brief maceration period to extract some tannin and bitterness, which builds freshness and food-friendly structure—what he calls la voie d’amers, or “the bitter road.”We’re thrilled to offer these terrific, authentic wines to our clients. You won’t find his name splashed all over the place—Jean-Baptiste is notoriously indifferent regarding promotion—yet, if we know anything about wine, we believe these will get Rhône lovers as excited as we are.