Xavier Gérard
Overview
A domaine on the march under son Xavier, wine-school trained and well-traveled, whose first complete vintage was 2013. He took over full-time from December 2012 as father François retired — François had been a part-time vigneron alongside two days a week at the Crédit Agricole. Based in Condrieu, with a spacious new cellar beside the N86 south of the Condrieu centre from August 2019, allowing gravity-fed winemaking. Exports 75% of production (up from just 5% at the outset).
Appellations
- Côte-Rôtie
- Condrieu
- Saint-Joseph
Key Wines
- Côte-Rôtie La Landonne — from 2013, extremely high quality from early 1980s vines planted by François. Regularly around 4-5 stars
- Côte-Rôtie Le Mollard — from 2019, southern sector. Also around 4-5 stars
- Côte-Rôtie (classic) — hits 4 stars, genuine drinking at a lesser price
- Condrieu Côte Chatillon — from magmatite soils (shared only with Rouelle-Midi at Limony). An up-and-coming site now also worked by Stéphane Ogier, Stéphane Montez, and Jean-Paul Jamet. 4-star STGT in 2016 and 2018
- Condrieu L’Arbuel — the classic Condrieu, from Marmouzin, Corbery, and a Limony plot
- Saint-Joseph Le Blanchard (red) — from a vineyard rented from the late Gérard Villano. Wins marks for purity and clarity
- Saint-Joseph La Combe Saint Pierre (red) — from newly planted vineyards (0.92 ha in 2020, 0.6 ha in 2024)
- IGP Viognier — always a very good+ performer that lives a little
Xavier’s approach to climate challenges: in 2022 he harvested one-third of the Côte Chatillon blend on 23 August at 12° and two-thirds on 29 August at 14.9°, bringing freshness via the earlier pick.
Style Notes
Precise, terroir-focused, and increasingly confident. Xavier is making the most of his father’s vineyard investments (La Landonne, Le Mollard from early 1980s plantings), and the wines show clarity and authenticity. The Côte Chatillon Condrieu from its unusual magmatite soils is a distinctive offering.
My Tastings
Sources
sources/articles/JLL/Xavier_Gerard.txt— JLL / drinkRhone.com producer profile