Les Grand Places Côte-Rôtie

Domaine Jean-Michel Gerin is a family owned winery located in the heart of Côte Rôtie, near the village of Ampuis in the Rhône Valley. Hailing from a family of grape growers, Jean Michel established his eponymous winery in 1983, the first in his family to make wine. While he sources much of his fruit from family owned vineyards dating back to his grandfather’s time, he has also purchased land along the way, buying his first vineyard in the famed ‘Les Grandes Places’ in 1988, followed by a second purchase in ‘La Landonne.’ Today, the estate covers a little more than 30 acres in the Côte Rôtie appellation and much smaller plots in Condrieu and the northern Rhône, which Jean-Michel farms alongside his two sons, Michäel and Alexis.

A tiny 3.5 acre lieu-dit, Les Grandes Places (The Great Place) is composed of micaschiste on steeply terraced hillside vineyards that face South-Southeast. Les Grandes Places is planted with JM Gerin’s oldest vines, some of which were planted by his grandfather and other family members in the years 1924,1925 and 1926. 50-80 years old vines sit on South Southeast vineyards at 250-300m a.s.l. Hand-harvested (tractors can’t manuver the terraces) and picked by walking downhill with a basket strapped behind. Tiny production yields 400 cs/year. LGP is always tasted last.

Macerated for 30 days and aged 22 months in barrique, 40% new oak, 60% in 1 and 2-year-old barrels. Gerin uses native yeasts for all their wines.

Bright purple with an explosively perfumed bouquet that displays ripe, spice-tinged blackberry, cherry compote, incense and smoky bacon scents, backed by vanilla and mocha qualities. Huge mouthfeel, it is a wine with power and sustainability. Offers palate-staining dark fruit liqueur, vanilla and candied violet flavors that are lifted and given focus by a jolt of juicy acidity. Youthfully firm tannins build steadily through a strikingly long, penetrating finish that repeats the blue fruit and floral qualities.