2016 Pierre Gaillard Rose Pourpre Cote-Rotie, Northern Rhone

Gaillard’s Saint-Joseph is drawn from several parcels located in the high country of Malleval, Chavanay and Limony in the far north of the appellation. The vines lie closer to Vienne and Condrieu than to Tournon-sur-Rhône in the south. Gaillard’s steep, cool soils have plenty of granite, which contributes to the mineral cut of this perfumed and vibrant Syrah. At the same time, varying altitudes and aspects offer Gaillard a variety of blending options and provide one of the keys to the impressive consistency of this wine.
 
As usual, each parcel was destemmed and vinified separately, aging was mostly in used Allier and Nevers barrels for 18 months and the wine was bottled unfiltered. This is an immediately engaging, sleek, detailed and fragrant St-Jo with an array of red and blue fruits, exotic spices, floral perfume and graphite aromas. The palate flows freely, with lovely freshness allied to the silken textural depths and fine-grained tannins expected of this grower. It finishes lovely, long and scented and almost blurs the lines between Pinot and Syrah. And, while it’s the kind of vins de plaisir that screams don’t wait, it has everything in place to suggest it is a ten-year prospect.