Last weekend, we offered Gerard's 2017 St. Joseph Blanchard. As expected, it sold out in a few hours.

Today, we turn to the 2016 Côte Rôtie. It's Gerard's work in Côte Rôtie and Condrieu that represents the beating heart of the domaine.

Where the St. Joseph Blanchard offers profuse aromatics, an incredibly appealing verve and loose knit texture, the Côte Rôtie is seriously structured, packing an enormous amount of nuance into a lithe framework.

Xavier Gerard is one of the most exciting young winemakers working in the Northern Rhône. He was introduced to his importer, none other than Neal Rosenthal, by the great Côte-Rôtie classicist Bernard Levet. Xavier Gerard is a young grower who took over his family's small domaine in earnest in 2012 and in no time has turned out incredibly elegant and traditionally made Syrahs and Viogniers.

The vineyard sources for his Côte Rôtie highlight the domaine's impressive holdings. It's sourced mainly from the Mollard lieu-dit with Font-Jean, Viallière, and La Landonne making up the remainder. The resulting wine has a tightly wound intensity, real punch and subtle complexity. It feels like a Côte Rôtie that will age brilliantly.

We have really high hopes for Gerard's 2016 Côte Rôtie. The 2016 Northern Rhônes possess unusual depth, clarity and refinement. The wines are concentrated and nicely ripe, but the truly exciting part is how it's presented in such a graceful, mineral and energetic sort of way. Gerard really shines in the vintage.

Word hasn't gotten out yet on Gerard, but it's obvious that the days are numbered. Gerard is a small estate and it's very easy to predict pricing taking a significant jump and the wines becoming much harder to find. Don't miss the 2016. The pricing and the wine are simply too good.

To order, email offers@crushwineco.com or call the store at (212) 980-9463.

Joe Salamone

Wine Buyer
Crush Wine & Spirits