Saint-Jean-de-Muzols (Ardèche,Rhône Valley, France)

A talented and discreet artisan winemaker.

Where ?

Saint-Jean-de-Muzols is a village located at the confluence of the Ardèche and the Rhône: we are in the north of the Rhône Valley, in the heart of the Saint-Joseph wine appellation. On the other side of the river is Crozes-Hermitage, where our winemaker also harvests grapes in the north of the appellation. Every two years, Saint-Jean hosts a wine book fair, an opportunity for local winemakers to meet. This, briefly described, is the framework of the activities of Thierry Alexandre, known as Titi, who tends his vines and fruit trees with the utmost discretion. He has been tending his estate since 2001, cultivating vines and trees, notably apricots, peaches, and cherry trees. For the vine juice, the vintages vary, as he practices a living viticulture, sensitive to the soil, the plant, and the climate. In small volumes, he produces Saint-Joseph appellations and, since 2017, Crozes-Hermitage white. We at Culinaries are delighted to introduce you to the talent of this true artisan winemaker.

Terroir, plots, and grape varieties

The surface area is small: two hectares, one hectare of which is under vines, including half a hectare in the Saint-Joseph appellation. On the other side of the river, in Servas, he also harvests Marsanne, a superb white Crozes-Hermitage. The grape varieties are those of the appellation: Syrah, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. The vines are trained in goblet style on stakes. The soils are varied but consist mainly of decomposed granite, gneiss, loess, and sandy clay.

Growing Methods, Winemaking

Thierry cultivates his two hectares using biodynamic farming methods and produces wine without additives. The harvest is entirely manual, followed by careful sorting in the cellar and, for some vintages, a passage in a cold room which allows the harvest to unfold as it matures. Semicarbonic maceration is carried out on whole bunches for around three weeks; pressing is very slow and gentle. Fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats with natural yeasts, and aging is accomplished, for part of the production, also in stainless steel, and for the other part in old barrels, which give character and velvety texture to the wines.

The Wines

In the opinion of those who have tasted them, Thierry's wines are delicacies, delicious and drinkable to the extreme. They are not haughty, stiff, or austere wines, but true wines that welcome and satisfy you. Deliciously pure, they can be described as old-fashioned wines, those from the time when we poured ourselves a drink with friends without worrying. There is no heaviness, and plenty of balance, particularly between the mineral-earthly notes and the fruity notes. Given the small yields, these are bottles to enjoy while they last.

Producer: Thierry Alexandre

Tous ses vins

Saint Joseph Red 2019