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).

The ironic name of Grandes Places is the actual name of the tiny parcel (0.39 ha) which produces this wine, where Syrah and Viognier grown in brown soil. Vinification takes the form of total destemming, punching the cap down and pumping the juices over for 4 to 5 weeks, a slow, gentle fermentation, a low-pressure pressing so as not to burst the seeds, and a 38-month élevage in six new French oak barrique barrels. This wine for keeping reveals its full potential with game. It has attractive dark colours and intense notes of black berries, smoke and menthol.