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Located in the Rhône Valley, the Côte-Rôtie appellation is one of the region’s most prestigious northern crus. It produces exclusively red wines with an established reputation. Thanks to its exceptional location, this generally results in elegant cuvées marked by suppleness, aromatic amplitude and fine tannins.
The cradle of Rhône wines
The Côte-Rôtie appellation is considered the very origin of Rhône Valley wines. Indeed, there are records of wine being celebrated in the region as far back as antiquity. Centered on the commune of Ampuis, an ancient Greek and then Roman trading post, the Côte-Rôtie wine-growing region was the origin of what Martial, Pliny the Elder and Plutarch called Viennese wine. The vineyard has grown over the years. Its reputation, which was mainly confined to the city of Lyon, spread abroad from the Renaissance onwards, thanks to its export to England and Russia, for example. The vineyard reached its peak in 1890, when every plot of land was dedicated to growing vines. However, the phylloxera crisis, followed by the First World War, took their toll on the region’s viticultural grandeur. It wasn’t until the 1970s that a new generation of winemakers took the vineyard in hand and turned it into the Rhone Valley nugget it is today. The Côte-Rôtie vineyard now covers over 300 hectares in the communes of Ampuis, Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône and Tupin-et-Semons.
A unique terroir, the starting point for exceptional wines
Situated 30km south of Lyon, the Côte-Rôtie vineyards are planted on steep, terraced hillsides with south-east exposure, ideal for growing vines. On these steep slopes of up to 60%, the grapes are harvested exclusively by hand. The grapes are handled gently, which greatly contributes to the quality of the resulting wine. But that’s not all! Typical metamorphic soils and a balanced climate make this an idyllic environment for ripening grapes. The vineyards benefit from temperate winters and hot, dry summers. Rainfall is regular, while the wind is also very present, which limits the development of vine diseases often caused by excessive humidity. The conditions are perfect for Syrah, the region’s emblematic grape variety, to flourish. It is the only red grape variety authorized in the blending of AOC Côte-Rôtie wines. However, winemakers are free to add up to 20% Viognier, a white grape from the northern Rhône Valley, to the blend.
Le Côte-Rôtie 2014
2014 was a rather mixed year. Indeed, while the high temperatures and drought might have suggested an early vintage, the heavy rains that followed made for a rather heterogeneous year. Nevertheless, the best terroirs and the best winemakers have produced great wines in Côte-Rôtie so that the appellation’s 2014 vintage is very qualitative. Although ready to drink, it can be kept for another decade.
Photo : Adobe Stock – Marcello
