The Gaillard Côte-Rôtie is a co-fermented blend of 90% Syrah and 10% Viognier from the schist soils of Fongeant and Viallière (Ampuis), and a parcel of vines on gneiss at Semons in the south of the appellation. All the fruit was harvested by hand with a strict selection, ensuring only the finest bunches and berries made it into the final blend. Fruit was 100% de-stemmed and vinification involved a five-day, pre-fermentation soak and then regular punch-downs. The wine spent 18 months in barrique (50% new) and was bottled unfiltered.
John Livingston-Learmonth’s w.o.w. acronym (in the review below) stands for “what one wants”. In John’s words: “It is a wine that immediately declares its pleasure.” This about sums up Gaillard’s 2020 Côte-Rôtie. It’s deliciously precocious and almost free drinking with a perfumed palate buoyed by gleaming freshness, seamless tannins, and a fine weave of silky fruit adding to the overall charm. “Buvabilité!” beamed Gaillard when he saw the smiles cross our faces. Drinkability!