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Souillard's Roussanne is drawn from an intriguing, granite-based vineyard at Sanilhac, close to the entrance of the beautiful Ardèche gorge. The east-facing vineyard—planted in the early 1970s and 2000s—sits on a steep hillside at 450 metres where the poor, stony grès (sandstone) soils are laced with granite. Souillard works with just 0.4 hectares, and also sources his Viognier from this “magic” site.
The altitude here is key. Souillard’s Roussanne is his last variety to ripen and can be picked in October, with moderate alcohol without loss of acidity (the 2020 was harvested on September 26, the late picking adding depth). Following partial crushing, the grapes were fermented wild and aged for 12 months in older oak barrels. A touch of maceration and a managed press cycle drew out more food-friendly grip than is commonly seen this far south.