2022 Gilles Robin Cornas, Northern Rhone Valley

The Robin family have grown grapes in Crozes-Hermitage for four generations, the first vineyard a 1.27 ha plot acquired by Gilles’ great-grandfather Louis Pasquion in 1920. But until 1995 the production was substantially sold to the local cooperative in Tain l'Hermitage. When Gilles took over from his father Michel in 1996 however, he set the estate on a new course, bottling his first wines under the Gilles Robin label. More than 25 vintages later he is widely regarded as one of the top producers of the region.

‘Since 2015, the Northern Rhône has seen a string of very good to great vintages. At the moment, I’d put 2015 and 2018 in the “great” category.’
Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, December 2019.

In 1996 the estate was just 10 ha and nearly all in Crozes-Hermitage. Today, it has expanded to 22 ha and includes prime holdings in Hermitage, Cornas, St-Joseph and St-Peray, as well as the original vineyards in Crozes. The average age of vines across the estate is now more than 40 years, and this combined with meticulous work in the vineyards brings great concentration and complexity to the finished wines. In 2012 Gilles began working with organic viticulture and today the estate is certified organic.

In the winery, extractions are gentle and slow, often 30 days or more and maturation is in a mix of barriques and demi-muids (< 20% new) for 12 - 24 months. In 2018 all the reds were vinified with 100 % whole bunches. 

From 30+ yo vines located at the top of the Cornas hill in the famed lieu-dit of St Pierre. The vineyard is high and cool with granitic soil and ripens quite late, an advantage in a warm vintage like 2018. Tiny production

Gilles Robin’s Cornas is a brooding and soulful expression of Syrah from one of the most rugged and revered appellations in the Northern Rhône. Known for his precision and minimal intervention approach in Crozes-Hermitage, Robin brings the same philosophy to his limited production Cornas, drawing out the raw, untamed beauty of this steep granite terroir.

The grapes are sourced from old vines rooted deep in the hard, weathered soils of Cornas, where Syrah thrives under intense southern exposure. Gilles works organically in the vineyard, harvesting by hand and vinifying with native yeasts. Whole bunches are often used for added structure and complexity, with ageing in older oak barrels to preserve purity.

In the glass, this wine is wild yet finely structured. Aromas of black cherry, cracked pepper, smoked meats, violets and graphite leap out, underpinned by Cornas’ signature iron and granite minerality. The palate is muscular and savoury, showing taut tannins and dark fruit that will unfurl beautifully with time in bottle.

It’s a wine made for lovers of Syrah in its most elemental form — powerful, unadorned and true to place. One for the cellar or the table, especially alongside slow-roasted lamb shoulder, venison pie or eggplant with black olive tapenade.