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Pierre Gaillard got into the wine business at a very young age. His
first vineyard was the Chardonnay vines he planted in his parents'
garden. After working for both Guigal and Vidal Fleury, he struck out
on his own and from his first vintage he was lauded by the media for
his cuvee de Saint Joseph, made solely from one vineyard parcel. Since
then his vineyards have expanded, mainly in the Cote Rotie and
Condrieu appellations.
Pierre Gaillard is now reckoned as one of the northern Rhone's best
vintners. His estate is situated on the commune of the medieval city
of Malleval and is equipped with a state-of-the-art winery that
fosters the production of wines of the highest quality. His wines are
among the best bets of the region. The estate now totals 16 hectares,
the vineyard extending over about 40 kilometers, from Ternay in the
north to Limony in the South. The vines grow on broken schist soils
and are cultivated in a manner that respects the character of the
terroir and enhances the health of the vines. The aim is to harvest
fully ripe grapes, with quality given precedence over quantity,
resulting in balanced wines that combine power and finesse and which
have good potential to keep. Aged for 20 months in Allier and Nevers
oak barrels, 20% of which are new.
Pierre Gaillard has succeeded in producing wines which display a
harmonious blend between wood and wine. An exceptional cuvee that is
selective in two respects: it is from a chosen parcel and is selected
from among various barrels, once-aged. Only ten or fifteen barrels
altogether!!!
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