Domaine la Vigne des Pères- Aymeric Paillard Petit Père Saint-Joseph 2021

ymeric Paillard is the winemaker behind Petit Père, a Northern Rhône Syrah first released with the 2014 vintage. Having honed his craft as head winemaker at Château des Sarrins in Provence, and with experience alongside his father, Bruno Paillard, in Champagne, Aymeric set out on a journey across France in search of the ideal terroir for his own project.
That journey led him to Tournon-sur-Rhône in Saint-Joseph, on the right bank of the Rhône River, directly facing the iconic Hermitage hill. Here, the appellation’s steep, east-facing granite slopes—worked through labour-intensive terraced cultivation—offer a compelling balance between continental and Mediterranean influences. The nearby river tempers the microclimate, bringing moisture and moderation, while steady winds help maintain vineyard health by reducing disease pressure.
In 2011, Aymeric secured his first 3.7-hectare parcel in Sarras, later expanding with an additional hectare in Cornas. His vineyards are farmed organically and entirely by hand and horse. In the cellar, his philosophy remains equally precise and restrained: 100% whole-cluster fermentation, semi-carbonic maceration, and élevage exclusively in large, used barrels—allowing the granitic purity and finesse of Syrah to shine through with clarity and elegance.