Recoltant Napa Valley
Recoltant — meaning farmer or harvester in French — was founded in 2018 by sommelier Desmond Echavarrie and winemaker Julien Fayard with a vision to revive a classic style of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.
Inspired by the wines of the late 1980s and early 1990s that first sparked Desmond’s passion, Recoltant focuses on fruit sourced primarily from Coombsville and other cooler southern Napa sites. The result is a Cabernet that leads with vibrant Napa fruit while offering the savory complexity, structure, and restraint reminiscent of Bordeaux.
Crafted with precision and balance, Recoltant Cabernet showcases notes of red and dark fruit layered with tobacco leaf, cedar, and a touch of green olive, framed by bright acidity and poised tannins. Julien’s roots in Provence and training in Bordeaux bring an old-world sensibility, while Desmond’s Napa vision ensures the wine remains unmistakably of its place. Together, they’ve created a brand that honors the past, embraces Napa’s unique terroir, and delivers a soulful, timeless expression of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Julien Fayard Winemaker
Julien Fayard is a French-born winemaker celebrated for bringing sophisticated French finesse to California terroirs. Hailing from a multi-generational wine family and raised in Provence and Bordeaux, he honed his craft at legendary estates like Château Lafite‑Rothschild and Smith Haut Lafitte. In 2006 he moved to Napa Valley, where he served as Director of Winemaking for Atelier Melka for nearly a decade.
A master of blending and terroir expression, Julien has been the winemaker-of-record on over 20 high-profile Napa wines—such as Purlieu, Brion, Covert Estate, and Le Pich—and recently launched his own eponymous label. Julien is widely respected for producing wines that offer precision, identity, and balance.
He holds two Masters from France—in Agribusiness (ESA) and Winemaking (Toulouse)—plus an MBA from UC Davis. Julien started producing Recoltant with the team at Scale in 2018.
