The domaine du Monteillet has belonged to the Villard family for no less than 5 centuries and nine generations! The family’s most well-known member is Louis Hector, duke of Villard and Louis XIV’s Marshall of France (1653-1734). Stéphane Montez has been running the property since 1997, having travelled the world to work in all sorts of different vineyards. His experience in the four corners of the world allowed him to develop new techniques in the family property and to respond to potential climatic difficulties. The vineyard is spread over 14 hectares and three appellations (Côte Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu).

This white Saint-Joseph owes its name to the lieu-dit at the southern end of the village of Tournon. Its constituent Marsanne and Roussanne grapes benefited from granite subsoils and red clay soils sparsely covered with pudding stones. In the cellar, pressing is particularly slow. The white must is settled, vinified and matured on the lees in new barrels for eleven months with some regular stirring. The Gonon brothers allow the wines to undergo malolactic fermentation. Les Oliviers reveals a round, creamy palate that opens into attractive bitter notes. At the same time, notes of citrus, honey, flowers and gourmet spices deliver a particularly fresh, persistent finish. This organically certified wine deserves to be enjoyed with true gourmet dishes. Scallops or risottos with truffles would fit the bill perfectly!