Côte-Rôtie
Continental
The 'roasted slope': dizzyingly steep terraces of Syrah, sometimes co-fermented with a little Viognier, making perfumed, silky reds.
Overview
About Côte-Rôtie
Côte-Rôtie is the northernmost appellation of the Northern Rhône, above the village of Ampuis. Its name refers to the slope's sun-drenched exposure, and its vines are grown on terraces of extremely steep, stone-walled hillside, so most of the work has to be done by hand.
The rules allow up to 20% Viognier to be co-fermented with the Syrah, which adds perfume and lifts the wine. The wines are among the most elegant of the north: violet, raspberry, bacon fat and black pepper, with fine tannins. Local tradition speaks of two slopes, the Côte Brune and Côte Blonde, which give a firmer and a lighter style.
Côte-Rôtie is marked on the map.
France
Shaded: Rhône. Map units are states, provinces or départements, so a smaller place appears as the larger area that contains it.
The land
Climate & terroir
Climate
Continental
Continental, cool for the Rhône, with the south-facing slope critical for ripening. The Mistral is a major influence, and hail can be a problem.
Terroir & soils
What the vines grow in
Steep terraces of schist and gneiss, with more iron-rich, dark soils on the Côte Brune and lighter, lime-rich soils on the Côte Blonde.
Go deeper
Rules, years & producers
Côte-Rôtie is a single appellation, with no official vineyard ranking. Its famous single-vineyard wines are the producers' own cuvées.
AOC Côte-Rôtie
Red only, from Syrah, with up to 20% Viognier permitted.
Named lieux-dits
Sites such as La Mouline, La Landonne and La Turque are bottled separately by some producers. They are famous, but not official tiers.
What's grown here
Grapes
Each grape's page links back here.