Pierre Gaillard Côte-Rôtie Rose Pourpre 2018

Gaillard's Côte-Rôtie, pure Syrah from the Côte-Rozier sector on brown schist rich in iron oxide.

Côte-Rôtie is the northernmost red appellation of the Rhône, a narrow band of terraced slope above Ampuis where the gradient rules out machinery. Rose Pourpre comes from Côte-Rozier, a south-facing amphitheatre of stone terraces sheltered from the wind, where the schist carries enough iron oxide to colour it brown. Pierre Gaillard bought his first vines in the northern Rhône in 1981 and set the domaine up formally at Malleval in 1986, one of a generation who brought these abandoned slopes back into production; the family now also holds properties in Banyuls, Collioure and Faugères, and his three children work across them. The wine is entirely Syrah, with no Viognier co-fermented, and is given a slow, gentle extraction to keep the tannins fine. It goes into barrel before malolactic fermentation and stays eighteen months, the proportion of new wood varying by vintage and always kept in a supporting role.

Worth five to ten years in the cellar and best decanted if opened young. Serve at 16-18°C with roast lamb, duck or a peppered steak.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.