Gilles Robin Saint-Joseph Petite Pierre Blanc 2024

70% Marsanne and 30% Roussanne from a tiny 0.4 ha of south facing vines planted very high up at 450 metres on steep granitic soil above Tournon in the prime part of the original Saint Joseph appellation just north of Mauves. Just 2000 bottles produced. This shows freshness (13 % alcohol) intensity and precision making this very attractive drinking now and for the next few years.

'Ripe pear and yellow apple, honeysuckle and lemon flesh introduce the 2024 Saint-Joseph Blanc Petite Pierre, with quietly woven wet stone adding mineral lift. Touching the mediumbodied palate with mid-spectrum substance, the 2024 is a competently crafted white SaintJoseph that can be enjoyed straight after release.' 89 points, Nicholas Greinacher, Vinous, January 2026.

The Robin family have grown grapes in Crozes-Hermitage for generations, but until 1995 they were always sold to the local cooperative in Tain l'Hermitage. Today, Gilles estate bottles his entire production and consistently produces some of the very best wines of this appellation. Gilles has just 15 hectares, however most of those vineyards are fully mature at more than 40 years old.

The estate has several plots of land in the favoured ‘Les Chassis’ district just south of the Hermitage hill. The soils in this area consist of large amounts of smooth pudding stones ‘galets’ and red clay from the route the Rhône river once flowed. These richer clay based soils give a wine that is typically rounder and more generous than from some other areas of the appellation.

Owing to the large amount of mature old vines at this estate most of the wine produced is of the premium “Alberic Bouvet” cuvee. This cuvee is produced from vines averaging 40 years age. Picking is done by hand and yields are kept low at around 38 hl/ha. In the ripest years a small percentage of stems are allowed in the ferment and the wine is aged in barriques (and increasingly in larger 450 litre barrels) for about 15 months with about 15% new barrels used each year.