Gilles Robin

The Robin family have grown grapes in Crozes-Hermitage for four generations, the first vineyard a 1.27 ha plot acquired by Gilles’ great-grandfather Louis Pasquion in 1920. But until 1995 the production was substantially sold to the local cooperative in Tain l'Hermitage. When Gilles took over from his father Michel in 1996 however, he set the estate on a new course, bottling his first wines under the Gilles Robin label. More than 25 vintages later he is widely regarded as one of the top producers of the region.

In 1996 the estate was just 10 ha and nearly all in Crozes-Hermitage. Today, it has expanded to 22 ha and includes prime holdings in Hermitage, Cornas, St-Joseph and St-Peray, as well as the original vineyards in Crozes. The average age of vines across the estate is now more than 40 years, and this combined with meticulous work in the vineyards brings great concentration and complexity to the finished wines. In 2012 Gilles began working with organic viticulture and today the estate is certified organic.

In the winery, since 2013 Gilles has worked with an optical sorting table for the harvest and extractions are gentle and slow, often 30 days or more and maturation is in a mix of barriques and demi-muids (< 20% new) for 12 - 24 months. From 2019 onwards the reds have been vinified with 100 % whole bunches. There has also been a notable move towards ageing in larger 500+ 600 litre demi-muids (all from Montgillard tonnellerie) in recent years with large clay amphora notable in the cellar and very few smaller 228 litre barrels in use. So the wines show less oak as a result and greater fruit purity helped by the whole bunch fermentations since 2019 vintage. Also an optical sorted has been employed for both white and red varieties since 2014 for even great precision and grape selection into every cuvee. The results are clear in every single wine with striking purity and the lightest of touch for all winemaking and ageing.

NEW WINES and new vintages - now available.

2024 vintage - ‘Everything is so clean and fresh in 2024’ quotes Gilles who notes that his region missed the deluge of rain that affected other parts of France in 2024.

Crozes-Hermitage BLANC Les Marelles 2024
60 % Roussanne and 40 % Marsanne from 1 ha of vines aged from 10-40 years old from the lieu-dits of Monico and Les Marelles close to the winery in La Plaine des Chassis. Each variety was hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed and cool fermented separately in stainless steel. The Marsanne was matured for six months in barrique, the Roussanne in stainless steel, then both parcels were assembled for a few months on fine lees in stainless steel. 333 dozen in 2024.

The wine shows lovely bright, peachy orchard fruit with a spine of bright acid bringing shape and length making this extremely attractive to enjoy now and for the next few years. A very clear winner.

2024 ‘Using 60% Roussanne and 40% Marsanne from older vines averaging 60 years, the 2024 Crozes-Hermitage Blanc Les Marelles comes forward nicely, opening with pronounced lemon flesh, ripe pear, signs of passion fruit and a splash of verbena tea. Medium-bodied and refined, the 2024 checks out with peachy pulses on the long finish.’
90 points, Nicholas Greinacher, Vinous, January 2026.

Saint Joseph BLANC Petite Pierre 2024
70 % Marsanne and 30 % Roussanne from a tiny 0.5 ha of south facing vines at 450 metres on steep granitic soil above Tournon in the prime part of the original Saint-Joseph appellation. Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed and cool fermented in stainless steel. Matured for six months in barrique. 150 dozen in 2024.

The wines shows freshness (13 % alcohol) intensity and precision making this very attractive drinking now and for the next few years.

2024 ‘Ripe pear and yellow apple, honeysuckle and lemon flesh introduce the 2024 Saint-Joseph Blanc Petite Pierre, with quietly woven wet stone adding mineral lift. Touching the mediumbodied palate with mid-spectrum substance, the 2024 is a competently crafted white SaintJoseph that can be enjoyed straight after release.’
89 points, Nicholas Greinacher, Vinous, January 2026.

Hermitage BLANC 2023
100 % Marsanne from vines around 40 years old planted in the pale sandy clay-chalk soil of lieu-dit Les Diognières. Hand-picked, whole-bunch pressed and cool fermented in stainless steel. Matured for 12 months in four new 228 litre barrels from Tonnellerie Montgillard in Burgundy. 100 dozen in 2023.

The wine shows lovely weight, texture and freshness (13.5 % alcohol) with a long powerful finish and very good clear fruit on the back palate which will build with more time in the bottle, giving this wine the potential to age gracefully for 10 years or more. Whilst the hill of Hermitage is considered to be granitic for the most part, it is worth noting that this eastern section contains the lieu-dits that are the best known for white Hermitage with exceptional ageing potential: Les Rocoules, Les Diognières and Maison Blanche. Les Rocoules sits above Les Diognières and Maison Blanche sits just above Les Rocoules.

2023 ‘The inaugural 2023 Hermitage Blanc walks onto the stage with expressive honeysuckle, dried chamomile, cedar and veils of pear. Mid-range but almost full in feel and notably concentrated, the 2023 is a delicious white Hermitage, ushering in the close with plenty of substance and sheer class on the complex finale.’
93 points, Nicholas Greinacher, Vinous, January 2026.

Crozes-Hermitage Papillon (à Léonie et Lucie) 2024 & 2022
100% Syrah from vines in Les Chassis on the red stony-clay soils peppered with galets roulés (pudding stones). First planted in 1996, the vines here were progressively planted as Gilles converted this plot from orchard to vineyard. Hand harvested and 100 % de-stemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks and clay amphora for 2-3 weeks. The stainless steel tanks use a fully enclosed submerged-cap system slowly circulating the fermenting wine to provide a very gentle, anaerobic extraction and wonderful fruit purity. Matured for six months in tank and amphora and bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The vibrant and perfumed Syrah fruit and the fine silky tannins result in a fresh and delicious wine that can be well enjoyed young. Although it also has the fundamental quality to mature gracefully for a decade or more. Gilles recommends serving at a lightly cooled 16°. 13 % alcohol.

2024 ‘The Crozes-Hermitage Papillon red, is an immediate, well fruited wine for young consumption, carrying floral and spiced interest: ideal with steak-frites or spaghetti Bolognese, for example.’ John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com.

Crozes-Hermitage Albéric 2024 + 2022 (750 mL, 1500 mL)
Gilles describes the 2024 vintage of this wine as ‘more Burgundy in style’ with softer, finely textured tannins making it very approachable and enjoyable young. Mostly from 3.5 ha of old vines (~70 years old), on red and brown clay soils in Les Chassis with a small parcel from Les Chênes Verts nearby. Fermented with 30 % whole bunches, with extraction by remontage (pump-over) and pigeage (foot treading) over 20 days. Matured for 12 months in a mix of 70 % barrique (30 % new) and 30 % amphora. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

‘This cuvée was first produced in 1996. It pays tribute to my grandfather, Albéric Bouvet, who passed on his passion for wine to me.’ Gilles Robin.

2022 ‘Dark red; plum fruit, rose-floral airs, a nose with a genuine N Rhône Syrah aroma. The palate is well made, fits well together, has a flavour of intense red berry, raspberry coulis, red fruit gums, cooked fruits, has sure length, late salting. It actually gains reduction after 90 minutes! 13°. 2033-35 Oct 2024’ John Livingstone-Learmonth, drinkrhone.com, October 2024.

2024 ‘Aged for 12 months in a combination of French oak barriques and Italian clay amphorae, the 2024 Crozes-Hermitage Albéric emerges beautifully, opening with ripe red cherry, red plum, fresh violets and a dash of pepper. Midweighted, energetic and peppy, the focused 2024 comes off the palate with attractive length on the savoury finish.’
90 points, Nicholas Greinacher, Vinous, January 2026.

Cornas 2023 (and last bottles of 2022)
From 0.6 ha of 30-year-old vines on granite terroir in the lieu-dit of St Pierre at the top of the hill of Cornas. At 400 metres elevation, the vines can ripen up to 2 weeks later than those lower down. Hand-picked with 100 % whole-bunch ferment in stainless steel and extraction more by pigeage (foot treading) over 20 days, followed by 15 months in one new 228 L barrique and two old 600 L demi-muids. 158 dozen in 2023. We have managed to secure just a few cases for Australia, so these won’t last long. 14% alcohol.

2023 ‘Aged for 15 months in new French oak barriques and using grapes from the Saint Pierre lieudit, the 2023 Cornas delivers ripe black cherry and graphite dust neatly complemented by stemmy tones and hints of cedar. Framed by ripe tannins, the 2023 is best kept for two more years to mellow further.’ 90 points, Nicholas Greinacher, Vinous, January 2026.

Hermitage 2023
From vines planted in 1972 on the lower slopes of Les Bessards, a granite terroir with sand and clay from the Rhône, where Gilles does all the vineyard work himself. Hand-picked and 100 % de-stemmed, with ferment in stainless steel over 20 days, followed by 18 months in five new barriques. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. 125 dozen in 2023. 13.5 % alcohol.

The wine is fresh and detailed with old vine intensity expanding on the palate with fine, silky tannins leading to a finish of exceptional finesse and elegance. Outstanding. Will develop and evolve over a decade or more. A superb representation for this great vineyard. Just a few cases available for Australia.

2023 ‘Using grapes from the Les Bessards lieu-dit with its granite and gravel soils, the 2023 Hermitage is outstanding, launching with prominent ripe blackberry, black cherry, white pepper and cedar tones. Mid-volume, nudging toward full, the 2023 is delicious even at this youthful moment, yet I recommend giving it at least three more years to gain further complexity. Only two barriques are filled each year.’ 93 points, Nicholas Greinacher, Vinous, January 2026.

Saint Joseph rouge 2019 - SOLD OUT
100% Syrah including vines planted in the Saint-Epine lieu-dit, north of Tournon, where the soils are schist and gneiss over granite giving a finer fresher profile than those planted further south on pure granite. Vinified with 100% whole-bunches the resulting wine is more Burgundian with striking floral aromatics and super fine tannins. Pure joy.
‘Deep ruby. Ripe blackberry, cherry compote, licorice and violet aromas are energized by a spicy cracked pepper flourish. Broad and fleshy on the palate, offering smoke- accented dark berry and floral pastille flavors that pick up a mineral nuance as the wine opens up. Shows fine delineation on a long, smooth finish that's framed by subtle, well-knit tannins. These vines are planted in the prized, heavily granitic Saint-Épine lieu-dit, just outside of Tournon. Drink 2024-2032.’ 92 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous, December 2022.