AOC Côte-Rôtie wines awarded at the Gilbert & Gaillard International Challenge

A.O.C./A.O.P.

an appellation set in the far northern part of the Rhône Valley. The vines grow on terraces supported by dry stone walls facing south-east, which provides them with maximum sunshine. Three villages are entitled to the appellation: Ampuis, Saint-Cyr-sur-le-Rhône and Tupin-et-Semons. The Côte Rôtie area is divided into two parts: Côte Blonde and Côte Brune. Côte Blonde is home to steep granite terraces covered with a layer of siliceous limestone, whilst in Côte Brune the soil is iron oxide-rich clay. The wines are vinted traditionally with relatively long vatting periods (two to three weeks) and aged for 18 to 36 months in oak casks which are often new.

Grape varieties: Vins rouges : syrah, viognier

The wines of this appellation

these red wines are single varietals made from Syrah, occasionally augmented with a tiny proportion of Viognier. Their deep red colour with purple tints takes on orangy-yellow tints when they reach 10 to 15 years of age. The wines are extremely well-structured, tannic and unctuous with a characteristic intense bouquet. Wines from Côte Blonde tend not to keep for as long as those from Côte Brune. They display aromas of violet, spices (pepper, vanilla), red fruit (raspberry), black fruit and undergrowth. They pair with water fowl, subtly-flavoured meats (roasted young wild boar), truffles and asparagus.