Chronicle of the Week: “Julien Pilon, globetrotter and winemaker”

With his BTS in Viticulture and Oenology, completed on a sandwich course with Yves Cuilleron, Julien Pilon seized the opportunity to work for Olivier Decelle at the Mas Amiel estate.
After a stint in Spain with Marc Bournazeau at Domaine Terra Remota, then with Pierre Gaillard at Domaine Madeloc in Banyuls-Sur-Mer, Julien returned to the Rhône Valley where, with the help of Pierre-Jean Villa, he decided to set up his own trading house.
“I’ll always remember my first vintage. I didn’t have a cellar in which to elaborate my cuvées. So I created a cellar in the middle of my parents’ garage.”
Our favorite is Hermitage Blanc 2017 “Prisme”, a 100% Marsanne cuvée from the “Maison Blanche” lieu-dit, a loess terroir on the upper part of the hill. A nose of remarkable complexity and a palate that’s voluminous but never heavy. Emotion guaranteed!

“The idea of producing my own wines had always been there, but in the end I couldn’t do it anywhere else but at home.” Julien Pilon