Gérin

History of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin

The history of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin begins in 1983, when Jean-Michel Gerin purchased his first vineyard parcel in Côte-Rôtie. Coming from a family established in the region for six generations, he follows in the footsteps of his ancestors, while making his own mark on the estate. In 1987, he took over the family vineyards, belonging to his father Alfred and his grandfather Marcel. This step marks the true development of the estate, with the production of the estate's first cuvée.

As early as 1988, Jean-Michel Gerin opted for parcel-based vinification, an innovative approach at the time, highlighting the lieu-dit "Les Grandes Places," renowned for the exceptional quality of its grapes. He continued his expansion in 1996 with "La Landonne," another legendary parcel of Côte-Rôtie. At the same time, he modernized the infrastructure with the construction of a vat room and barrel cellar in the 1990s, ensuring optimal conditions for aging his wines.

The year 2003 marks an important turning point for the estate with the planting of the parcel "La Viallière," located on steep slopes of 40% to 60%. After years of titanic work, the first bottles appeared in 2009, revealing the greatness of this terroir. In 2018, the lieu-dit Côte-Bodin was vinified separately, after being planted more than 30 years ago.

Today, Michaël and Alexis Gerin, Jean-Michel's sons, have joined the estate and continue its development, notably launching the conversion to organic farming in 2020, a certification obtained in 2023. The estate now extends over nearly 20 hectares, with a solidly established reputation.

Terroirs and Vineyards of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin

Located 30 kilometers south of Lyon, Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin extends over remarkable terroirs in Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Joseph and Condrieu. The Côte-Rôtie appellation, with its steep hillsides and southeastern exposure, is the jewel of the estate. This vineyard benefits from a dual climatic influence, both Mediterranean and continental, offering the wines a perfect balance between power and elegance.

Syrah is the king grape variety of the region, but the estate sometimes adds Viognier to give the wines additional finesse. The parcel "La Viallière," planted in 2003, is an emblematic example of the steep terroir of Côte-Rôtie, where schist and mica-schist soils allow Syrah to reveal all its complexity. The vines are planted on impressive slopes ranging from 40% to almost 60%, a real challenge for winegrowers, but the results are well worth it.

The parcel "Les Grandes Places" is another exceptional terroir, with vines planted at different periods (1927, 1965 and 1989). This lieu-dit produces spicy and powerful wines, built for aging. As for "La Landonne," another emblematic lieu-dit of the estate, it is distinguished by its mineral soils that give the wines a rare elegance.

The estate also extends over the Condrieu appellation, where Viognier reigns supreme. The climate and soils give this grape variety expressive aromas of yellow fruits and great freshness, as evidenced by the cuvées "La Loye" and "Les Eguets."

Vinifications of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin

Vinifications at Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin are carried out with respect for traditions, but with constant attention to precision and expression of terroir. Syrah, the majority grape variety, is vinified parcel by parcel, allowing the nuances of each lieu-dit to be revealed. The grapes are harvested manually, ensuring rigorous selection of the clusters.

The aging of the wines is mainly done in oak barrels, with variable durations depending on the cuvées. The Côte-Rôties, for example, benefit from long aging of 22 months, with a variable percentage of new barrels. The cuvée "Les Grandes Places" is aged in 40% new barrels, while "La Viallière" rests partly in new demi-muids, bringing finesse and elegant structure to the wine.

For white wines, such as Condrieu, aging is carried out in demi-muids, with wood from two to five wines, preserving the freshness and aromatic expression of Viognier. These vinification methods, combined with exceptional terroirs, allow the estate to produce complex, powerful and elegant wines.

The cuvées of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin

Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin offers a varied range of cuvées, each reflecting the identity of the terroir from which it comes. Among the must-haves are:

La Champine Syrah: A 100% Syrah wine, easy to drink, aged in stainless steel tanks. It is perfect for immediate consumption or five years of aging.

Saint-Joseph: A 100% Syrah cuvée, aged 12 months in barrels, with aging potential of ten years.

Côte-Rôtie Champin le Seigneur: Composed of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, this wine is aged 22 months in barrels and can be kept for more than ten years.

Côte-Rôtie La Viallière: This 100% Syrah wine, aged in demi-muids, offers beautiful mineral structure and a saline finish.

Côte-Rôtie Côte-Bodin: A cuvée from vines planted in 1987, offering sanguine and mineral aromas with beautiful energy.

Côte-Rôtie Les Grandes Places: This powerful and spicy wine, from old vines, is ideal for long aging.

Côte-Rôtie La Landonne: A mineral and elegant wine, from a small parcel facing due south.

La Champine Viognier: A fresh and easy-to-drink white wine, ideal for consumption within three years.

Condrieu La Loye: An expressive Viognier, aged in demi-muids, with a beautiful balance between freshness and richness.

Condrieu Les Eguets: An intense Viognier, with smoky notes and a slight bitterness.

Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin has produced numerous remarkable vintages over the years. Wine enthusiasts from the estate can turn to years such as 2009, 2015, 2016 and 2019, all of which have been praised for the exceptional quality of the wines produced. The ideal climatic conditions of these years have allowed the wines to reveal all their complexity and aging potential.

The more recent vintages 2020 and 2021 also show very beautiful promise, with wines more accessible when young, while maintaining strong aging potential.

While exploring the Northern Rhône Valley, do not miss discovering other prestigious estates in the region, such as Guigal, Jamet, Levet, Gangloff, Rostaing or Domaine Yves Cuilleron, to enrich your knowledge of wines from this magnificent wine region.

Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin embodies the excellence of wines from the Northern Rhône Valley, and particularly from the Côte-Rôtie appellation. With a rich family history spanning six generations and unparalleled expertise, the estate produces wines combining power, elegance and finesse, which captivate lovers of great wines worldwide. Jean-Michel Gerin's bold choices, such as parcel-based vinification and conversion to organic farming, testify to his commitment to quality and respect for the terroir. Today, under the direction of his sons Michaël and Alexis, the estate continues to push the boundaries of viticultural excellence, while remaining faithful to its roots. Whether you are a lover of Syrah or Viognier, the cuvées from Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin offer unique tasting experiences, to be savored today or allowed to age to reveal all their complexity.