Gérin

History of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin

The history of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin begins in 1983, when Jean-Michel Gerin purchased his first parcel of vines in Côte-Rôtie. From a family established in the region for six generations, he follows in the footsteps of his ancestors, while leaving his own mark on the estate. In 1987, he took over the family vines, belonging to his father Alfred and his grandfather Marcel. This step marked the true rise of the estate, with the production of its first cuvée.

From 1988, Jean-Michel Gerin opted for parcel-by-parcel vinification, an innovative approach at the time, by 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 mythical parcel of Côte-Rôtie. In parallel, he modernised the infrastructure with the construction of a fermentation cellar and a barrel cellar in the 1990s, ensuring optimal conditions for the ageing of his wines.

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

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

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin

Located 30 kilometres south of Lyon, Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin spans remarkable terroirs in Côte-Rôtie, Saint-Joseph and Condrieu. The Côte-Rôtie appellation, with its steep hillsides and south-easterly 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 lend 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 the syrah to reveal its full complexity. The vines are planted on impressive slopes ranging from 40% to almost 60%, a true challenge for the winegrowers, but the results are well worth the effort.

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 ageing. As for "La Landonne", another emblematic lieu-dit of the estate, it stands out for its mineral soils, which lend the wines a rare elegance.

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

Winemaking at Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin

Winemaking at Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin is carried out in keeping with tradition, but with constant attention to precision and the expression of terroir. Syrah, the dominant grape variety, is vinified parcel by parcel, allowing the nuances of each lieu-dit to be revealed. The grapes are harvested by hand, ensuring a rigorous selection of bunches.

The wines are aged primarily in oak barrels, with varying durations depending on the cuvée. The Côte-Rôtie wines, for example, benefit from a long ageing 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, lending the wine finesse and an elegant structure.

For white wines, such as Condrieu, ageing is carried out in demi-muids, with wood of two to five wines, preserving the freshness and aromatic expression of the viognier. These winemaking methods, combined with exceptional terroirs, allow domaine de 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 originates. Among the must-haves, you will find:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Côte-Rôtie La Landonne: A mineral and elegant wine, coming from a small parcel with full south-facing exposure.

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

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

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

Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin has produced many remarkable vintages over the years. Wine lovers of the estate can look 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 allowed the wines to reveal their full complexity and ageing potential.

The 2020 and 2021 vintages, more recent, also show very promising signs, with wines that are more accessible when young, while still retaining strong ageing potential.

While exploring the Northern Rhône Valley, be sure to discover other prestigious estates in the region, such as those of Guigal, Jamet, Levet, Gangloff, Rostaing or Domaine Yves Cuilleron, to deepen your knowledge of the wines of this magnificent wine-growing region.

Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin embodies the excellence of wines from the Northern Rhône Valley, and more particularly from the Côte-Rôtie appellation. With a rich family history spanning six generations and unrivalled expertise, the estate produces wines that combine power, elegance and finesse, captivating wine lovers of great vintages from around the world. The bold choices made by Jean-Michel Gerin, such as parcel-by-parcel vinification and the conversion to organic farming, reflect 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 true to its roots. Whether you are a lover of syrah or viognier, the cuvées of Domaine Jean-Michel Gérin offer unique tasting experiences, to be enjoyed today or left to age to reveal their full complexity.