Domaine Rostaing

Most recently, René and his wife purchased a modest estate, Domaine Puech Chaud, in the Côteaux du Languedoc near Nîmes. Located in a relatively cool micro-climate, the zone's limestone gravel seemed perfect for the Rostaings' love of Syrah. Bolstered with small amounts of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Grenache Blanc, and Rolle, Puech Chaud is now producing on the Midi's most beautiful wines.

René Rostaing's first cuvee dates back to 1971. Back then, the vineyard only covered 1.5 hectares, split between the Côte Blonde and the Landonne. The vineyard gradually grew bigger and bigger, through the buying of new lands and the takeover of father-in-law Albert Dervieux' and Uncle Marius Gentaz' vineyards. Today, Rostaing's vineyard spreads over 7 hectares in Côte Rôtie and 1 hectare in Condrieu..

Today, Rostaing can boast 20+ acres of the finest vineyards in and around Côte Rôtie. The wealth of vineyard holdings results in an astonishing array of wines. From several parcels of old vines immediately adjoining Côte Rôtie and Condrieu, Rostaing produces a gorgeous Vins de Pays white and red called Les Lezardes.

In Condrieu, he holds a tiny parcel in Côte Bonnette that yields some of the region’s most refined Viognier. Most of his Côte Rôtie parcels are blended to produce “Ampodium” (fka “Classique”), a terrific expression of the appellation. And, of course, there are his two prized Côte-Rôtie special cuvées, La Landonne and Côte Blonde.

And, with the 2013 vintage, one of the Northern Rhone’s great vineyards will return when Rostaing releases his first wine from the Côte Brune lieu-dit.

This parcel from Marius Gentaz was the basis of some of the greatest wines ever made in Côte-Rôtie. Sadly, the old vines were in desperate shape when Rene inherited them, and he made the hard choice to replant the site. For over 15 years, the fruit has been used in Rene’s “Ampodium” (aka “Classique”) but he now believes that the site’s vines, pushing 20 years of age, are again ready to stand alone.

Côte Rôtie – literally ‘roasted slope’ – is the most northerly of the Rhône Valley’s great appellations. The vineyards are spread over 250 hectares (617 acres) of steep, south-facing slopes along the western bank of the Rhône.

The region has a remarkable variety of different terroirs. The soil is mostly mica-schist, but this is enriched in different lieux-dits (individual vineyard sites) by silex, clay, limestone and iron oxides. 

The domaine is committed to bringing out the character of these terroirs, in all their complexity, in its different cuvées.

The Côte Blonde and La Landonne cuvees will introduce wine-lovers to the uniqueness and surprising diversity of Côte Rôtie soils that benefit from exceptional exposure. Vineyards located outside these areas are blended into the Cuvée Classique, an interesting sample of the appellation. The quality of this latest cuvée is one of René Rostaing's top priorities, should he blend in and thus downgrade a great cuvée to achieve it.

The vineyards of Condrieu start a few kilometres south of Côte Rôtie. This is one of France's smallest appellations, but ranks with the greatest in character and originality. It is from Condrieu that the Viognier grape traces its origins, and it is here that it achieves its highest potential. 

The winemaking and ageing process is exactly the same for all three cuvées: they owe their different characters exclusively to their respective terroirs. 

The grapes are hand picked and the approach to winemaking straightforward and non-interventionist, so that we can be sure each glass of wine reflects the typicity that we're looking for.

Rostaing's winemaking is a mix of tradition and modernism such as total or partial destemming and the fermentation in roto-fermenters.

The two-year ageing process is carried out in 228 liters Burgundy barrels and in demi-muids (600 liters), which offers an interesting wood/wine rate. The part of new wood remains minimal so that it does not interfere with the terroir nor alter the fruit purity.

The limited yields (never over 35 Hectos/Hectare) guarantee wines its constitution and richness, savour and elegance that we invite you to discover!

Rostaing is a beacon for Côte Rôtie’s “Classicists”—those whose winemaking is deeply rooted in tradition while incorporating new thinking. In the cellar, he employs roto-fermenters, but only so he can break up the must himself, not to shorten macerations. Today, his Côte Rôtie barrels are only 10-15% new.

He prizes mature fruit, but rails against some of his neighbor’s overripe, “Australian” wines. In other words, this is the best of classic Côte Rôtie—brought into the modern age, but true to its origins. And, with his son Pierre now assuming day-to-day control, the future for this estate looks brighter still.

Puech Noble

In the late 1990s, René and his wife purchased a property in the Côteaux du Languedoc near Nîmes. The estate, originally named Puech Chaud, is now known as Puech Noble. Located in a relatively cool micro-climate, Puech Noble gave the Rostaings a chance to produce Syrah on the limestone soils so beloved by many French growers. Bolstered with small amounts of Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Rolle, Puech Noble is now producing one of the South’s most beautiful wines.