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.