Description
Deeply rooted in Crozes-Hermitage, the Robin family has cultivated grapes for four generations, beginning with a modest 1.27-hectare plot acquired by Gilles’ great-grandfather, Louis Pasquion, in 1920. For decades, the harvest was primarily sold to the local cooperative in Tain l’Hermitage. However, a turning point came in 1996 when Gilles took the reins from his father, Michel. He steered the estate in a bold new direction, bottling the very first wines under the Gilles Robin label. Thirty vintages later, Gilles is widely celebrated as one of the region’s premier producers.
What began as a 10-hectare estate focused almost entirely on Crozes-Hermitage has since expanded to 22 hectares. Today, the domain boasts prime parcels in Hermitage, Cornas, St-Joseph, and St-Péray, alongside their historic original vineyards. The estate’s vines now average over 40 years of age; combined with meticulous vineyard management, they yield wines of exceptional concentration and complexity. This dedication to the land culminated in a shift to organic viticulture in 2012, and the estate is now fully certified organic.
In the cellar, Gilles favors a gentle, patient approach. Extractions are slow, often lasting 20 days or more, followed by 12 to 24 months of maturation in a thoughtful mix of barriques, demi-muids (with less than 20% new oak), and clay amphorae.
About this wine: 100 % Syrah from vines planted in 1996. 100 % de-stemmed and fermented in stainless steel tank and clay amphora for about 2-3 weeks with very gentle extraction. Matured in tank and amphora for six months and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
From the winery: “The Papillon (“Butterfly”) Crozes-Hermitage Rouge is the vibrant expression of a beautiful Syrah grown on a terroir of pebbles and a layer of clay and sand. In each bottle, a feminine and spicy character emerges … The harvest is carried out both mechanically and manually, with total destemming. The grapes are then selected on an optical sorting table. Juice extraction is achieved through pump-overs and punch-downs to respect the integrity of the grapes. Finally, the wine is aged for eight months in stainless steel tanks. “
RRP $68 Our Special Price $57.99 when you buy 6 or more of this wine.
