Pelletier, Yannick

“Yannick Pelletier is meticulously-farming 21 mostly schistic acres at the northern edge of Saint-Chinian, and the results were some of the   revelations of my recent tastings: as yet little-known wines that are at the apex of their appellation.”

-David Schildknecht , The Wine Advocate

Yannick Pelletier has not always been a winemaker. At 34, after graduating with a degree in Wine Marketing, he began his career as owner of a wine shop in Lyon.

He had fallen prey to the wine bug and before long became a winemaker himself. Instead of going to oenology school, he decided to learn his craft in the field, specifically with the winemakers whose wines inspired him.

In 2002, he worked several months with Didier Barral in Faugères. Then in 2003, he went to the Northern Rhône get a feel for Viognier and Syrah alongside the trio Cuilleron-Villard-Gaillard. Next he moved to St. Nazaire de Ladarez, a little village in the St. Chinian appellation, about 25 kilometers north of Béziers. There he acquired vineyards, either bought or leased. Currently he is farming about 10 hectares of mostly old vines in schist and limestone clay soils.

His philosophy has been greatly inspired by Didier Barral, notably concerning the adoption of biodynamic viticulture and minimal use of sulfur during vinification and aging of his wines.

Wines

• Saint Chinian l'Oiselet 2008
• Saint Chinian Rouge l'Engoulevent 2008