2015 Domaine Pierre Gaillard Dans la Neige Rhone Blanc

The vintage of a lifetime from a legendary producer

Among winemakers in the Rhône, Pierre Gaillard is known as “Good King Pierre.” A story you’ll hear on the wine trail is that a fellow winemaker was walking past Gaillard’s vineyards during a blustery snowstorm when he did a doubletake. As he peered across the vineyard, he had to pinch himself — were those snow fairies dancing through the vineyard rows? No, it was a team of blind white horses that Pierre had rescued and was sheltering among his precious vines.

By the age of 12, Pierre knew he was destined to make wine in his beloved Northern Rhône. To hone his craft, Pierre studied viticulture and enology in Beaune, and obtained a graduate degree in winemaking from Montpellier. After his studies, Pierre worked at the historic Vidal-Fleury — the winery famously visited by Thomas Jefferson in 1787. Then he landed his dream job, and worked under the tutelage of the legendary Etienne Guigal, the vigneron that Robert Parker has called “This planet’s greatest winemaker.”

From Guigal, Pierre learned how to frame his wines with a judicious use of oak, and that above all else, respecting the “raw material” is the key to making world-class wines.

In 1987, Gaillard ventured out on his own, quickly earning his place as one of the most respected vintners in the Northern Rhône. Crafting wines from Côte-Rôtie in the Northern Rhône all the way to Cornas in the south, “the soft-spoken Pierre Gaillard” inspired Parker’s Wine Advocate to call him “One of my favorite Northern Rhône winemakers.”

In 2002, Pierre met Kimberly Jones, the wine broker to the superstar winemakers of Napa Valley. They formed a partnership to marry Gaillard’s Viognier vines in Condrieu with his Marsanne and Roussanne planted in St. Joseph. They named this wine Dans la Neige — “in the snow,” a reference to the windy snowstorm whipping through the vineyards during their meeting.

The 2015 vintage in the Northern is one for the record books. Robert Parker called it Extraordinary — his top ranking — and awarded it 97 points, the highest score he’s given out anywhere in the world for the year.

A celebrated producer, and a stellar vintage. Exceptional Condrieu Viognier and stunning St. Joseph Marsanne and Roussanne — a match made in heaven! Only 30 cases available of one of our most exhilarating discoveries this year, and only $24.99! Shipping included on 6.

• ABV 13.50%
• Enjoy right away
• % White Blend