Gilbert & Aurélien Chirat, “Soliste” 2019, Saint Joseph, Rhone, France

About Gilbert & Aurélien Chirat : Producers of Condrieu, Saint Joseph and Côte Rôtie. Aurélien Chirat is a fourth generation grower whose cellar in St-Michel-sur-Rhône is at the confluence of the Condrieu and Saint-Joseph appellations. His father, Gilbert, finally gave up his polycultural farming activities in 1984 to concentrate on viticulture, selling wine to the likes of Marcel Guigal. Aurélien joined Gilbert in 2008 and took control of the cellar in 2018. He still retains a relationship with Guigal, selling them Condrieu grapes in return for secondhand barrels.

“Our story began in 1925 when Benoit Chirat, my great-grandfather, left the village of Chapelle Villard for St Michel Sur Rhone. The wines produced from syrah feed the bars of Condrieu.

The great development of the estate began in 1980 with the desire of Gilbert, my father, a young farmer, to stop the production of polyculture and to embark fully into viticulture on the vertiginous terraces of “CONDRIEU”. In 2012, I joined him and together we developed the estate on the appellations COTE ROTIE and SAINT JOSEPH. I seek to maintain the quality of my father’s wines while bringing the experience of my studies and the various places where I have vinified (New Zealand, South of France and Burgundy). The work of the vine, at the center of our estate, has been approached for 4 generations with permanent respect for the environment and biodiversity. Indeed, the viticulture method used favours a reasoned struggle allowing grapes to fully reveal the complexity of the most beautiful terroirs in the north of the Rhône Valley. The High Environmental Value (HVE) label obtained since the 2018 vintage is proof of this.” AURÉLIEN CHIRAT

Winemaking : Total indigenous alcoholic fermentation. 50% Whole harvest striated. Maceration 21 days under a submerged hat. Native malolactic fermentation in barrels. 12 months in half-muid of 500l including 25% new wood. 6 months in half-muid of 4 years

Description : 100% Syrah. First very expressive nose then aromas of ripe red fruits and spices appear. The mouth is elegant with notes of violet and red fruits, the wood arrives at the end of the mouth supported by firm tannins. Built for ageing.

Service Tip : Preferably decant or open 1 hour before serving. Air is his best ally in his youth.

ABV : 13.5 %

Awards : 

92 Pts Decanter

94 Pts Wine Advocate Robert Parker

16.5+ Jancis Robinson