Xavier Gerard is a relative newcomer to the world of old school Côte-Rôtie vignerons. But since he took over for his father in 2012, the wines have become critical darlings. John Livingston-Learmonth raves vintage in and vintage out (his notes on the 2021 are below).
But they aren't the kind of Côte-Rôties that appeal *only* to wine geeks and Northern Rhône nuts. Xavier is friends of the Levet family, the super-old school producers in Côte-Rôtie whose wines are very much on the wild and woolly side of what the appellation can do.
Xavier's wines, while every bit as honest and terroir transparent as Levet's, are more focused on the region's elegantly perfumed, gorgeously fruited side. But the Levets recognized his wines' kindred spirit and introduced him to their US importer, Neal Rosenthal. Neal was smitten and shared them with all of us in New York, where it was love at first sight.