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With a history of cherishing Syrah varieties and blending terroirs spanning four generations (Louis Pasquion acquired its first parcels in 1920), Gilles Robin Estate is highly rated internationally.
In 1996, Gilles Robin decided to take over the running of the vineyard considering both tradition and modernity. Gilles’ first vintage was so good that he won a gold medal at the prestigious Macon Wine Fair. His 1997 vintage made Oz Clarke’s top 12 list. 1998, 1999 and 2000 have followed spectacularly and the 2001 was the best so far, earning the accolade of Best Red at the France Under One Roof Tasting in London. Gilles makes very good wine indeed by careful selection and low yields, which was picked out as an essential buy by Jane MacQuitty (The Times). 2003, (2004 and 2005) received widest praise of all, with glowing reviews by Decanter, the Wine Spectator and Wine International.
The beautiful history of this estate goes on, maintaining the same objectives as 80 years ago: reveal the Syrah varieties’ complexity through a unique blending expertise of very expressive terroirs.
Vines have always been his passion, Syrah is his favourite grape. "The art of blending Syrah styles sublimate the wines from our terroirs", says Gilles. "Syrah grapes have an extraordinary capacity of adaptation and thus are able to express themselves in different ways. To each terroir a revelation".
So Syrah would be perfectible. Born in 1971, Gilles always supervised the work in the vineyards with his father. After studies in winemaking, he consulted wine properties to enlarge his knowledge from his father’s estate. Then, in 1996, he decided to take over the estate in order to bring a modern approach. He set himself two objectives. First, he invested heavily in the vineyards and has set new techniques which are mainly based on a natural viticulture, respectful of the environment. Secondly, he wanted to value the quality of the harvest with selective sorting, gravity systems and a work based on natural yeasts.
Vinification per plot, which gives to each terroir the ability to reveal its own particularities, became an essential approach to the modernisation brought by Gilles. His contemporary approach of the work started in 1920 by the previous generation makes Gilles Robin Estate one of the best rated domain in Rhone Valley.
Depth, intensity
and aromatic complexity.
Our wines are a unique experience of the full spectrum that Syrah varieties can reveal
thanks to very expressive terroirs and to a unique blending expertise.
Gilles Robin