Editors notes
Domaine Pierre Gaillard is a well-regarded wine producer based in Malleval, in the northern Rhône Valley. It is perhaps best-known for its range of local Côte Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu, Cornas, and Crozes-Hermitage wines. It also owns vineyard sites that stretch beyond the northern Rhône to the Languedoc-Roussillon, and makes a number of wines from grape varieties like Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier and Roussanne.
Pierre Gaillard bought his first vineyard parcels in Clos de Cuminailles in Saint-Joseph in 1981, establishing Domaine Pierre Gaillard six years later. The domaine now stands at a total of 77 hectares (190 acres), following a series of acquisitions in the Rhône, Banyuls-sur-Mer and Faugères.
The estate in the northern Rhône comprises 25 hectares (62 acres) of vines planted across appellations and regions including Côte Rôtie, Saint-Joseph, Condrieu, Cornas, and Crozes-Hermitage, as well as in the Côtes-du-Rhône and Collines Rhodaniennes winemaking zones. The steep, largely granite slopes are planted to Syrah, Viognier and Roussanne, and produce approximately 120,000 bottles of wine per year.
In Faugères, Pierre Gaillard cultivates a wider variety of red grapes, including Syrah, Grenache and Mourvèdre, as well as Grenache Gris and Blanc, Roussanne and Vermentino. The ten hectares (25 acres) of vines in this region are situated on soils characterized by brown schist and make up to 30,000 bottles of wine a year.
Pierre Gaillard acquired the seven-hectare (17-acre) Madeloc estate in Banyuls in 2002. The original vineyards have since been expanded with parcels in Collioure, bringing the current hectarage to 29 hectares (72 acres).
The coastal vineyards are planted on terraces and comprise parcels of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignan, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Vermentino.
Grapes are harvested by hand and each individual parcel and grape variety is vinified separately. Both the red and white wines undergo cold maceration and aeration and are aged in oak.
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Critic Scores & reviews
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Jancis Robinson MW
17"90% Syrah, 10% Viognier. Great lift and elegance. Mouthfilling. Excellent energy. Though still a little brutal at the moment. Savoury, salty finish."
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
91"The 2010 Cote Rotie Classique offers sweet, ripe tannins in addition to black raspberry and cassis fruit intermixed with loamy soil, bouquet garni and incense. Ripe and medium to full-bodied."
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Locations
France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Rhone Valley
The Rhône Valley is in the South of France and is situated in the Rhône river valley. The region has been growing wines for centuries and is generally split into two sub-regions. In the Northern Rhône, Syrah is the predominant grape variety, though it is often blended with other white varieties like Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier, or the red grape Mourvedre. In the Southern Rhône, a wide range of white, red and rosés are produced alongside the undisputed king of the Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
The Northern Rhône is cooler than the Southern Rhône and has a continental climate with warm summers and cold winter. The appellations from North to South are Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Château-Grillet, Saint-Joseph, Crozes-Hermitage, Hermitage, Cornas and Saint-Péray.
In Southern Rhône, the climate is more Mediterranean, with mild winters and hot summers. Châteauneuf-du-Pape is the most famous appellation but others include Côtes du Rhône, Gigondas and Lirac. Large pebbles are used in the region, placed at the base of the vines to absorb the suns heat during the day, to keep the vines warm at night.
Châteauneuf-du-Papes are blended from the 13 permitted grape varieties, though Grenache usually dominates, supported by Syrah and Mourvèdre. These wines can be supremely rich and complex and typically warrant 5-10 years in the cellar for best results.
Cote Rotie
The Rhone appellation furthest north is known for its captivating landscapes and exceptional wines, and among its renowned regions, one stands out—the picturesque Côte-Rôtie. Translating to "Roasted slope," this appellation derives its name from the region's steep slopes that face the sun, providing an ideal exposure for the vineyards. Nestled within Côte-Rôtie, two main slopes, known as the Côte Brune and Côte Blonde, showcase distinct characteristics that contribute to the diverse range of wines produced.
As their names suggest, the Côte Brune features darker soils composed of rich clay and iron. These elements impart strength and robustness to the wines cultivated in this area. The Côte Brune wines are known for their firm structure, deep flavors, and remarkable aging potential. The combination of the clay soils' ability to retain heat and the iron's influence on the grapes creates a unique and powerful expression of the terroir.
In contrast, the Côte Blonde boasts lighter soils composed of slate and limestone. This soil composition lends a delicate elegance and a softer touch to the wines produced on this slope. Wines from the Côte Blonde exhibit a graceful character with nuanced flavors, refined aromatics, and a silky texture. The slate and limestone contribute to the wine's finesse by providing excellent drainage, allowing the vines to reach a delicate balance between ripeness and acidity.
It is worth noting that Côte-Rôtie wines can either originate from a single designated slope or be a blend of both. When enjoying a bottle of Côte-Rôtie, the label will indicate whether the wine is sourced from the Côte Brune or the Côte Blonde or if it is a harmonious blend of grapes from both slopes. This labeling practice allows wine enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the distinct characteristics and nuances of each individual slope or experience the beautiful marriage of flavors achieved through skillful blending.
About the brand Pierre Gaillard
Pierre Gaillard cultivates vines on some of the most beautiful terroirs of the northern Rhône valley, ranging from Cote-Rotie down through to Cornas in the south. Over 77 hectares, these vineyards span the region’s steep, rocky hillsides. Shale soil brings a lot of character, elegance, and complexity to Pierre Gaillard wines. With exacting standards and meticulous attention to detail from vine to bottle, the brand cultivates Syrah, Viognier, Marsanne, and Roussanne.
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