Jean-Michel Gérin : Les Grandes Places 2023

Characteristics and Tasting Notes of the "Les Grandes Places" 2023

Tasting

Colour
The colour reveals a deep, powerful red, enhanced by subtle violet hues.

Nose
Wonderfully complex, the bouquet reveals intense aromas of ripe black fruits such as blackberry, blackcurrant and plum. It is enriched with spicy notes of black pepper, floral touches of violet and dried rose petal, as well as mineral, smoky and empyreumatic nuances, rounded off with vanilla and mocha.

Palate
The attack offers a perfect balance between richness and acidity. The palate unfolds concentrated flavours of black fruit liqueur, vanilla and candied violet. The tannins, firm at first, are carried by a lovely juicy freshness, leading to a remarkably long finish.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine from the Rhône Valley pairs wonderfully with roasted or grilled meats such as beef fillet, beef bourguignon or braised lamb shank. It also enhances duck-based dishes, feathered game, and mushroom recipes (morels, ceps, truffles). As for cheese, opt for a semi-dry goat's cheese or a Saint-Nectaire.

Service and storage

To fully appreciate this great wine, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature of around 15 to 16°C, taking care to decant it while young. This vintage, built to age, will begin to open up fully from 2027 and can be cellared until around 2047.

The masterful expression of a great Rhône terroir

The estate

Founded in 1983 by Jean-Michel Gérin, the eponymous estate quickly established itself as an essential reference. Located in Ampuis, this family-run property spans approximately 17 hectares within the Côte-Rôtie appellation and 2 hectares in Condrieu. Today, the founder is supported by his two sons, Michaël, who oversees the technical management of the vineyard, and Alexis, who brings his strategic and creative vision to the winery. Committed to an environmentally responsible approach, the estate obtained its organic farming certification in 2023, thereby perpetuating the authentic expression of its terroirs.

The vineyard

This cuvée comes from a legendary 1.4-hectare plot located within the famous Les Grandes Places lieu-dit. Facing south and south-east on extremely steep slopes, where the gradient sometimes reaches 60%, the vines benefit from optimal sunlight exposure and excellent drainage. This singular terroir, composed of mineral-rich mica schist soils, is home to vines aged between 40 and over 80 years old, the oldest of which were planted in 1927. Due to the extreme topography, the entire harvest is carried out by hand.

Winemaking and aging

For this exceptional cuvée, the grapes undergo complete destemming before beginning a maceration period of around four weeks. Fermentation is carried out exclusively using indigenous yeasts in order to preserve the identity of the terroir. The wine is then aged for 20 months, entirely in new French oak barrels, giving it the complexity and structure built for aging.

Grape variety

Syrah (100%).