PIERRE GAILLARD ESPRIT DE BLONDE COTE ROTIE 2021 750ml

ABOUT THE WINE

Famille Pierre Gaillard is a celebrated winemaking dynasty rooted in the sun-drenched hills of France's Northern Rhône Valley. Founded in 1981 by Pierre Gaillard—a passionate viticulturist trained in Beaune and Montpellier—the family estate began humbly in Malleval. Pierre, alongside his wife Pascale, cleared rocky terrains and planted their inaugural vines at Clos de Cuminaille in the Saint-Joseph appellation, reviving ancient Roman-era sites by hand. Today, spanning over 77 hectares across Saint-Joseph, Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Crozes-Hermitage, and extensions into Faugères and Banyuls, the domaine embodies schist-rich terroirs that yield elegant, complex wines. Pierre's children—Jeanne, Pierre-Antoine, and Elise—now co-steer the venture, upholding sustainable practices and a finesse-driven philosophy. Their Syrahs burst with violet, pepper, and mineral depth, while Viogniers offer floral opulence. Hailed by critics for purity and balance, Famille Pierre Gaillard wines capture the Rhône's wild, timeless spirit.
Perched on the legendary schist terraces of Côte Rôtie's Blonde sector, Esprit de Blonde is a radiant expression of Famille Pierre Gaillard's mastery in France's Northern Rhône. Launched by Pierre Gaillard in the 1990s, this cuvée draws from 4 hectares of meticulously tended Syrah vines (with a whisper of Viognier co-planted), rooted in iron-rich, crumbly mica-schist soils that infuse ethereal finesse. The 2021 vintage—shaped by frost-kissed spring and heat-tempered summer—delivers concentrated berries from low yields. Hand-harvested and fermented with native yeasts, it's aged 18 months in French oak (15% new) for seamless integration. At 13.5% ABV, this benchmark Côte Rôtie (95% Syrah, 5% Viognier) marries Blonde's floral grace with Gaillard's sustainable ethos and family vision, led by Pierre's children. Vibrant, age-worthy, it's a poetic ode to the Rhône's sun-kissed slopes.

TASTING NOTE:

Brilliant garnet with purple glints unveils a seductive nose of blackberry confit, blooming violets, and orange zest, entwined with white pepper, crushed stone, and subtle smoky olive tapenade. The palate dances with juicy dark fruits and floral lift from Viognier, balanced by racy acidity that tempers the vintage's ripe warmth. Silken tannins—refined and chalky—unfurl gracefully, layering in graphite minerality, hints of bacon, and exotic spice. Medium-plus body with an elegant, perfumed mid-palate, it crescendos to a persistent finish of fresh herbs, sandalwood, and saline snap. Decant for immediate allure, or cellar for evolving tertiary notes of leather and earth. Ideal with roasted duck or herb-crusted pork. Overall: floral, spicy, and supremely harmonious—a Blonde sector jewel.