Hameau Toucheboeuf La Montée Du Bois Lombard Viognier (Simon Gastrein)

Simon Gastrein is the kind of young winemaker everyone talks about, the one sommeliers send you a photo of asking, "do you know this?

Indeed this former chef who established himself only in 2017, seems to have found the cheat code to almost instantly achieve the status of an iconic bottle not to be missed in Paris.

The vines of Hameau Touchebœuf grow on the hillside amidst wild grasses at an altitude of 450m. It is here where the Rhône Valley meets the landscape of the Pilat Regional Natural Park that Simon Gastrein works.

Intuitively. Simply. By letting the terroir, the seasons and all their whims express themselves with the certainty that "nature does things well if you let it be generous."

He has planted Marsanne and Roussanne alongside Viognier, Gamay and Syrah. Recently he added Cugnette and Mornen Noir. A variety of fruit trees accompany Simon's vines reviving the tradition of mixed farming. With a flock of sheep, Highland cattle, Kunekune pigs, chickens and a pony, his large, lively family ensures natural weed control and a natural enrichment of the soil.

Simon's wines reflect his own character - straightforward, unpretentious, gastronomic, flattering while being expressive and a little quirky. Expect elegant Syrahs, fresh Viogniers, crisp Marsannes/Roussannes and delightful Gamays.

• Viognier