{"id":7447,"date":"2021-02-01T16:47:16","date_gmt":"2021-02-01T16:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/?post_type=project&p=7447"},"modified":"2023-04-11T16:06:39","modified_gmt":"2023-04-11T16:06:39","slug":"domaine-christophe-billon","status":"publish","type":"project","link":"https:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/project\/domaine-christophe-billon\/","title":{"rendered":"Domaine Christophe Billon"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Domaine Christophe Billon” subhead=”Ampuis | Rh\u00f4ne Valley” text_orientation=”center” background_overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.25)” _builder_version=”4.16″ title_font_size=”50″ subhead_font_size=”20px” background_color=”rgba(255, 255, 255, 0)” background_image=”http:\/\/www.northberkeleyimports.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/01\/cover_dentelles.jpg” max_width_tablet=”50px” global_colors_info=”{}” button_one_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_size__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_text_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_width__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_border_radius__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_letter_spacing__hover_enabled=”off” button_one_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off” button_two_bg_color__hover_enabled=”off”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row padding_mobile=”off” make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” admin_label=”row” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_color=”#fcf4de” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” make_fullwidth=”on” use_custom_width=”off” width_unit=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|2% ||2% ” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”USP” _builder_version=”4.20.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”|2%||2%” hover_enabled=”0″ use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>At the very top of the hill overlooking the northern Rh\u00f4ne town of Ampuis, you\u2019ll find the humble yet rising-star estate of Christophe Billon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Since 1991, Christophe has crafted honest, authentic Syrah wines from the steep, terraced slopes of C\u00f4te-R\u00f4tie. His family\u2019s roots here go back generations; the family\u2019s oldest parcel of vines can trace its origins back to the end of the second world war.<\/p>\n

Truly a working winemaker, Christophe for years balanced the demands of his job at Guigal with his own domaine, finally dedicating himself completely to the family project in 2007. His son, Corentin, after finishing his wine studies in 2015, now works at his father\u2019s side.<\/p>\n

The family crafts four C\u00f4te-R\u00f4tie cuv\u00e9es, each generously structured and stunningly pure, and each a faithful representation of the power and purity of these \u201croasted slopes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Found on the \u2018Brune\u2019 side of Ampuis, the family\u2019s \u2018C\u00f4te Rozier\u2019 and \u2018La Brocarde\u2019 cuv\u00e9es are classic Syrah wines, structured and stately, made for the long haul. \u2018Rozier,\u2019 neighboring the legendary plot \u2018La Landonne,\u2019 claims the estate\u2019s oldest vines, planted by Christophe\u2019s grandfather, Xavier. \u2018La Brocarde,\u2019 next to the classic \u2018C\u00f4te Brune\u2019 vineyard, delivers a more extroverted cuv\u00e9e, with heady minerals, bright red fruit and refined tannins. A new addition to the portfolio, ‘La Vialliere’ is also ‘Brune’ but gives a more floral, refined Syrah wine, perhaps a nod to its cooler perch at the very top of the slope.<\/p>\n

The family combines the harvest of four separate parcels for \u2018Les Elotins,\u2019 a delightfully fruited and balanced C\u00f4te-R\u00f4tie wine. Here the intensity of classic \u2018Brune\u2019 soils is married with a floral nuance, characteristic of the \u2018Blonde\u2019 side of C\u00f4te-R\u00f4tie \u2013 the best of all worlds.<\/p>\n

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FARMING & WINEMAKING<\/strong><\/p>\n

The family tends some 25 acres in and around the central C\u00f4te-R\u00f4tie village of Ampuis.<\/p>\n

The heart of C\u00f4te R\u00f4tie can be broadly separated by terroir into two sides: the ‘Brune’ and the ‘Blonde.’ The ‘Brune’ side, encompassing most of the north of the appellation, is dominated by dark, blue-black schist soils, with some mica. ‘Brune’ wines tend to be more tannic and structured. The ‘Blonde’ side, to the south, has looser granite soils with quartz and mica, and wines that are often more floral and red fruited, with finer-grained tannins.<\/p>\n

Estate vineyard holdings on the ‘Brune’ side of the appellation include plots in ‘C\u00f4te Rozier,’ one of which was planted in 1942; ‘La Brocarde,’ ‘La Vialliere,’ ‘Les Moutonnes’ and ‘C\u00f4te Baudin.’ Plots on the ‘Blonde’ hillsides include ‘Le Goutay’ and ‘Combard.’ The estate also crafts, in limited quantities, a Condrieu wine and a vin de pays Collines Rhodaniennes.<\/p>\n

Vines are cared for sustainably, and most work is performed by hand, given the steeply graded, terraced hillsides of many vineyard parcels.<\/p>\n

Grapes are harvested by hand, and are either partially or fully destemmed, depending on the cuv\u00e9e. Fermentation happens in temperature-controlled tanks on indigenous yeasts. Malolactic conversion is allowed in barrel; reds are aged in French oak cask or barrel. Wines are lightly filtered.<\/p>\n

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WHITE WINES<\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_toggle title=”Condrieu ‘Les Matisses'” admin_label=”Condrieu ‘Les Matisses'” _builder_version=”4.16.1″ title_font=”|on|||” title_font_size=”14″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”|5%||5%” use_border_color=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

Deeply golden, a great Condrieu is light and luxurious at once. This peerless Viognier from Christophe Billon captures golden citrus and lime zest, white flowers and sweet apricots in a silky robe that lingers on the palate. A fine single-vineyard selection made in very small quantities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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