Les Grand Places Cote-Rotie

Les Grand Places Côte-Rôtie

  • Côte-Rôtie AOC, 
  • Rhône, 
  • france

Latest Awards

  • 96 points Vinous , December 2022
  • 97 points Hot Wine Wine Spectator , February 2022
Background

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.

TERROIR & VINTAGE NOTES

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.

Winemaking & Aging

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.

Tasting Notes

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.

97
Points

This is packed with intense plum reduction, warmed cassis and fig paste flavors but is nevertheless sleek and poised, with singed mesquite, bay leaf, warm cast iron and alder accents inlaid deeply in the fruit. The long, smoldering and autumnal finish features a gorgeous mouthfeel throughout. Best from 2024 through 2040. From France. —J.M.

Wine Spectator - February 2022

96
Points

Bright purple. Deeply pitched aromas of spice-accented black and blue fruits, candied flowers, olive and exotic spices are sharpened by a smoky mineral nuance. Densely packed as well as energetic on the palate, offering bitter cherry, blueberry, candied licorice and fruitcake flavors that firm up slowly with air and take on a sweet cola note. The blue fruit and mineral notes drive a strikingly long, floral-accented finish that's given grip by chewy, steadily building tannins. -J.R.

Vinous - December 2022

95-97
Points

Highly perfumed, spice-accented dark berry liqueur, candied violet and licorice qualities on the nose, along with hints of olive, vanilla and allspice. Palate-staining cassis, cherry liqueur, floral pastille and fruitcake flavors show impressive depth and a bracing undercurrent of juicy acidity. Expands steadily with air and finishes extremely long and chewy, with mounting tannins and powerful, floral- and mineral-driven persistence. 50% new oak. -- J.R.

Vinous - May 2020

Appellation

Côte-Rôtie AOC

grape varieties

100% Syrah

Sizes

750ml

technical details
  • ABV: 14.5%
  • Closure: Cork
winemaker

Jean-Michel Gerin

Domaine Jean-Michel Gerin

Exploring the Full Range of High-Quality Domaine Jean-Michel Gerin Wines

Les Grand Places Cote-Rotie Les Grand Places Cote-Rotie

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