Domaine de Bonserine

Côte-Rôtie La Viallière

2000 years ago, the appellation was known as « Vitis Vienna ». Appreciated by the Romans, these wines quickly became demanded on royal tables. In 1890, the vineyard reaches its peak, but this long prosperity is followed by a century of neglect, the phylloxera crisis, followed by the 2 world wars, slowing down its development. The 1980s mark the renewal of the vineyard.

Appellation

Côte-Rôtie is the northernmost appellation in the Rhône Valley.
The slopes, which can reach up 60°, are located on the right bank of the river Rhône, between 180m and 325m of altitude.
We can find up to 20% viognier blended with Syrah in a bottle of Côte-Rôtie.
Appellation created in 1940
100 % red wines
319 hectares of vineyard
12 700 hl/ year
1,2 million bottles
Average yield about 36 hl/hectare
21 % of production is exported
Dry wines
73 classified parcels

Vineyard

Grape varietals

Syrah 95 %, Viognier 5%

Terroir

"La Viallière" is a parcel of 1 hectare located in the north of the appellation, on the Côte Brune, planted in 1997, on a soil made of mica schists, which gives structure to the wine. First vintage: 2003.

Average age of vines

20 years. Low yields, about 35 hl/ha

Winemaking and ageing

Winemaking method

100% manual harvest in boxes of 25 kg. Careful grape selection. Vatting including 5% of the grapes stem. Alcoholic fermentation done with indigenous yeasts, to express the terroir profile. A 3-week long maceration, with regular pumping over. Malolactic fermentation takes place in oak barrels.