Côte-Rôtie La Vialliere, Domaine Gérin 2021

Jean-Michel Gérin works some 10 hectares of top vineyard in Côte-Rôtie, where his father had been mayor and really put the estate firmly on the map. Jean-Michel went further and refined the wines.

Part of the secret of their success is having plots of vines on good slopes, scattered across the appellation (and including Viaillere and an acre of Landonne), allied to Jean-Michel's complete mastery of barrel ageing. He uses oak a good deal, both old and new, giving the wines a patina which comes through only with bottle age.

His Champin Seigneur is a blend from all his holdings, with about 10% viognier included into the blend. Jean-Michel raises his Côte-Rôtie for up to two years in oak barrels, including some new, and the wines are bottled without either fining or filtration. Much of the work at this estate is done in the vineyard and the rich, concentrated style is a result of low yields and great care during the harvest.

Jean-Michel also has some vineyard in Condrieu on two separate granite slopes, and a joint venture with winemaker Laurent Combier in Crozes-Hermitage. Gradually his son Alex is taking an ever-increasing role in the running of the estate.