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Dreyfus, Ashby & Co.
Main Office
630 3rd Ave
15th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Phone (212) 818-0770
Fax (212) 953-2366
Adminstration
50 Avon Meadow Lane
Avon, CT 06001
Phone (860) 409-9119
Fax (860) 409-9272
E-Mail
info@dreyfusashby.com
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Robert
Gilliard
Valais
 The
Gilliard's Estates
Backing on to the south-facing slope that overlooks the town of Sion,
the choicest vineyards of the house of Gilliard form an impressive estate
of about 40 hectares well sheltered and ideally exposed with a view extending
the length of the Rhône valley. The names are Domaine du Mont, Domaine
de la Cotzette, the vineyard of Clavoz and the vineyard of Uvrier
Domaine du Mont
A site predestined for Fendant (5 hectares), Pinot Noir (3.5 hectares),
and Johannisberg (0.5 hectares): these three grapes posses all the necessary
qualities for perfect fructification in a soil that is predominantly chalky,
flinty, dry and rocky, where the vine stocks push down roots 5 to 6 meters
deep. The altitude of 580 meters is ideal, protecting the vines from frost
and fogs of the plane. Established on an incline of 40 to 50%, the vineyard
of Domaine du Mont is hardly at risk from stagnation water! Blessed by
this exceptional geographical situation, the vine gives of its best in
the fabulous bottles bearing the names of Murettes, Dôle des Monts
and Vendémiaire.
Domaine de la Cotzette
The scene is a striking one. Is it the Great Wall of China that unfolds
under our gaze across an expanse of some three hectares. Reduced to the
size of an ant, man reflects on his destiny at the foot of the towering
walls more than twenty meters high. Divided into small sections of about
an acre, the vines rise vertiginously, tier by tier, facing Valère
and Tourbillon. The tenacious vine insinuates itself into faults in the
rock, drawing its rare aromatic sap from the most secret pockets of moisture.
Planted entirely with Fendant, Domaine de la Cotzette uses exclusively
the "head" or Guyot pruning systems. The miracle occurs under
the intense glare of the sun that scorches the slope with a summer heat
of more than 40 degree celsius.The geology of the area is celebrated in
a wine of fierce qualities, with a very personal character
The vineyard of Clavoz
Chalk rocks, salty schists and a thin covering of soil: what more sumptuous
setting can be imagined for the vine, since it is entirely from this poverty
of soil that it coins the richness of its wines. Surrounded by dry stone
walls, it takes pleasure in the company of wild mint and pasque flowers;
it succumbs to the caress of the green lizards and snakes which slither
across the slopes; it resonates to the song of the cicada; it conspires
with the hares and foxes which pass down its ranks. The vineyard of Clavoz
devotes some 4.000 m2 to Fendant, over 2.000 m2 to Petite Arvine, around
1.500 m2 to Marsanne and reserves the remaining acres of this earthly
paradise for Pinot Gris and Muscat, in plantations of as much as 1.000
m2 each. Often late varieties, they take pride in achieving, in the soils
of Clavoz, this consummation of earth and climate that raises the wine
to its greatest heights
The vineyard of Uvrier
Located only a few hundred meters from the other three, the vineyard of
Uvrier confirms the privileged position of the Gilliard's estates, all
of which are situated in the Sion appellation. Four hectares of fine chalky
and flinty terrain serve to confirm that hidden law which states that
the natural milieu exerts the most crucial influence on the quality of
the wine.
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