Côte Rôtie
Côte Rôtie is one of the oldest vineyards in France. It was set up by the Romans. The Côte Rôtie with its hills bathed in sun, produces a warm, robust, full-bodied, richly colored red wine. Harsh and dark when they are young those wines become softer and develop with age an excellent bouquet. Two grape-varieties dominate the production, Viognier and Syrah.
Wines of Côte Rôtie are often considered as the best Côtes du Rhône. Some Côte Rôtie wine makers and lovers use to split the best of the wines into brown Côte Rôtie and blonde Côte Rôtie. Browns are stronger and mature longer, blondes are more delicate.
Côte Rôtie wine information:
Name:
Appellation Côte Rôtie Controlée
Location:
North part of Rhone Valley, around Vienne city, on the right bank of the river
Places:
Saint-Cyr-sur-Rhône, Ampuis and Tupin-Semons
Soil:
Granite
Clay or sand
Size:
200 ha (500 acres)
Production:
1.1 million bottles
Only red wine !
Grapes:
Syrah 80%
Viognier 20%
Type of wines:
Full-body red wine
Age:
8 to 15 years
Vintages(recommended):
1999, 1998, 1995, 1991, 1990
Aromas in Côte Rôtie:
Raspberry
Spice
Vanilla
Food:
Roasted lamb
Roasted duck
Venison
Cheese:
St Marcellin
