Domaine de Bonserine

Côte-Rôtie La Garde

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 100 %

Terroir

An exceptional cuvée, taking its name from the Côte-Blonde, dominated by a Roman guard tower. A selection of the best grapes from 3 exceptional parcels: Côte Blonde (40% including the historic parcel “La Garde”), Côte Brune (60% including parcels close to “La Turque”, “Les Moulins”, “La Pommière”) and “les Moutonnes”. Schist soils with strong weathering of the bedrock in Côte-Blonde and rich in iron oxides in Côte-Brune. 1ha in total.

Average age of vines

60 years. Low yields.

Winemaking and ageing

Winemaking method

Manual harvest in small boxes of 25 kg, in order to preserve the good condition of the grapes. 3 successive sorting. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats. 50% destemming. Alcoholic fermentation with indigenous yeasts to respect the terroir. 4 weeks of maceration with pumping over to extract the noblest tannins.