Parker gives the 2006 vintage a 92!
"From bottle, the 2006 red wines are strong efforts."
-Robert Parker
If I had to live with only one appellation from the
northern Rhone, it would probably be St Joseph. I
seem to find more wines that excite me here than
anywhere else.
It's embarrassing to say, but with these St Josephs, I
find myself stealthily glancing at the level in the wine
bottle to make sure I get my fair share.
St Joseph is part of the northern Rhone, which
includes such well-known appellations as
Hermitage,
Cote Rotie and Cornas. St Joseph covers about
50
kilometers and runs in a thin line along the west bank
of the Rhone River.
St Joseph reds are 100% Syrah. The wines
tend to
have a very rich color, which includes some violet and
possesses aromas of black currant and raspberry with
sometimes some hints of leather and licorice.
The best St Josephs have everything: smoothness
with a touch of acidity, balance between the tannins
and fruit and a pure taste throughout. It just so
happens that I work with one of the best growers in
St
Joseph: Pierre Gaillard.
Here is what Robert Parker says about Pierre:
"Pierre Gaillard has over two decades of
experence so
he no longer qualifies as an 'up and coming'
superstar as he has achieved that status." -
Parker
And, now Pierre Gaillard's wines:
"Without wavering, Pierre Gaillard turns out quality
wines. For the past several years, this dynamic and
intelligent wine maker has turned out passionate
wines which win hearts in their youth and lack for
nothing in terms of future potential. Gaillard's wines
are some of the surest values in the Rhone. All of
Pierre's wines are a testiment to the know-how of
Gaillard and there is not a single weakness in
the
bunch." -La Revue du Vin de France
2007
Pierre Gaillard has earned his top tier ranking in the
Rhone through hard work. He toiled alongside Guigal
in the '80s to create Guigal's La Turque which is
a
benchmark vineyard in Cote Rotie with bottles going
for hundreds of dollars apiece. Gaillard scraped
together money for his first parcel of land in the St
Joseph region in the village of Chavanay in 1981.
The plot was called Clos de Cuminaille. The
land had
a 30 degree slope to it, but he was able to carve out
some terraces so he could use a tractor.
I import two St Josephs from Gaillard: Clos de
Cuminaille and his village St Joseph.
Wine Spectator says about Pierre
Gaillard's 2006 St Joseph:
90 Points "A fresh, floral style, with a
pleasantly firm edge framing the black cherry and
violet notes. Fills out nicely, with briar and mesquite
hints, as this airs in the glass. Drink now through 2010.
-JM"
Parker did not review the Clos de Cuminaille
this time, but we have some limited quantities of it; It is
a very special wine with slightly more oak aging and
coming exclusively from his original vineyard.
You will love these rounded beauties. Cynthia
Hurley
