Guillaume Gilles
Summary
Guillaume Gilles operates a small 2.5-hectare domaine in Cornas, Northern Rhône, focusing primarily on Syrah from the prestigious Chaillot lieu-dit's steep, granite-based terraced slopes. His traditional approach includes manual vineyard work, native yeast fermentation with high whole-cluster inclusion, and extended aging in neutral oak demi-muids, all bottled without fining or filtration to preserve the authentic expression of his historic parcels.
Heritage & Leadership
Guillaume Gilles established his domaine in Cornas in the Northern Rhône Valley in 2007 when he acquired parcels from retiring winemaker Robert Michel, who had been a significant figure in Cornas viticulture. This transition marked an important moment for Cornas, as Michel's retirement could have resulted in the loss of these historic vineyard sites to larger producers. Instead, Gilles, who had previously worked alongside Michel, continued the legacy of these parcels while establishing his own identity as a winemaker.
Gilles operates his domaine independently, maintaining a deliberately small-scale operation that allows for meticulous attention to each vineyard parcel. His background includes formal viticultural education as well as practical experience working with established Cornas producers, providing him with both technical knowledge and traditional wisdom that informs his approach to winemaking.
Vineyards & Wines
The domaine encompasses approximately 2.5 hectares of vineyards in Cornas, with the primary parcels located in the Chaillot lieu-dit, one of the appellation's most respected vineyard sites. These vineyards feature the steep, granite-based terraced slopes typical of Cornas, with elevations ranging from 100 to 300 meters above sea level. The south to southeast-facing aspects maximize sun exposure in this northern climate.
Gilles' vineyards contain Syrah vines of varying ages, with some plantings dating back 40-60 years. The granite soils, decomposed in varying degrees throughout his parcels, provide excellent drainage and impart mineral characteristics to the wines. His production focuses primarily on a single Cornas bottling, though he also produces a Côtes-du-Rhône from Syrah grown on the flatter areas near the Cornas appellation, and a small amount of white wine from Roussanne, Marsanne, and Viognier.
The flagship Cornas represents the heart of the domaine's production, with approximately 5,000 bottles produced annually, reflecting the limited size of his holdings and low yields from the old vines.
Philosophy & Practice
Guillaume Gilles adheres to traditional winemaking methods that respect the historical practices of Cornas. In the vineyards, he performs much of the work manually, a necessity given the steep terraced slopes that prohibit mechanization. Pruning, canopy management, and harvesting are all conducted by hand, with careful selection of fruit during picking.
In the cellar, Gilles ferments his wines with native yeasts in concrete tanks, following the traditional methods of the region. Whole clusters are typically used in fermentation, varying between 70-100% depending on the vintage conditions. Maceration periods extend from three to four weeks, with gentle extraction techniques to preserve the nuance of the fruit.
Aging takes place in used oak barrels, primarily demi-muids of 500-600 liters, for approximately 18-24 months before bottling without fining or filtration. This extended aging allows the wines to develop complexity while the use of neutral oak ensures the terroir expression remains at the forefront.
Gilles' approach emphasizes minimal intervention, both in the vineyard and cellar, focusing on expressing the distinctive character of Cornas through traditional methods rather than modern technological approaches. His production methods reflect a commitment to preserving the authentic character of Cornas Syrah while allowing each vintage to express its unique characteristics.