To the north of Ampuis, on the Côte Brune, the parent rock consists of shale with proportions of dark and light mica, which give the soil its namesake dark brown colour. To the south, the slate contains gneiss and weathers with it to a lighter grey, to which the vineyards owe the name Côte Blonde.
The wines are correspondingly different: those from the north are generally more powerful and robust, those from the south more delicate, charming and supple - although there are of course also cuvées from both zones. The most charming wines, however, often owe their character to the addition of Viogner, i.e. white wine grapes, a maximum of 20% of which is permitted here. However, such a high proportion is rare, and especially in the Côte Brune, the wines usually consist entirely of Syrah. Other varieties are not permitted.
The best wines of both styles combine enormous power, depth and complexity with striking finesse and elegance, as can only be found in the world's greatest red wines. Their beguiling aromas of black berries, cherries, dried herbs, bacon and pepper are complemented by more or less distinct floral aromas, depending on the style and the proportion of Viognier. Côte Rôtie, even the most charming, needs time to show what it is made of; the more approachable ones 5 to 10 years, the more massive ones 10, 15 years and longer, although the basic ageing ability of a first-class Côte Rôtie can only be measured in decades.
32 wines of the AOC Côte Rôtie we have tasted recently, which we present to you here and as always also as PDF all of them. Links to the wines and their producers with detailed descriptions. you will find here.