Côte Rôtie “Côteaux de Bassenon” AOC 2022

Wine description for Côte Rôtie “Côteaux de Bassenon” AOC 2022 by Maison Stephan

Colour & Appearance

Deep purple with violet reflections and a black core – dense, almost impenetrable in the glass.

Nose

A bright, fragrant Côte Rôtie in which the Viognier clearly shines through with citrus notes, blossom and stone fruit. Beneath lie violet fruit, violet and clove; the wood remains restrained. With air, darker registers of sloe, charcoal and leather emerge, without clouding the fresh, floral underlying mood.

Palate

Even more complex on the palate than on the nose: vibrant acidity, stunningly fine tannins and profound minerality. Violet pastilles meet juniper, rose, bresaola and clove. The density of the violet fruit is impressive – as is the tonic, juicy energy that makes the wine feel feather-light.

Finish

Long, cool and taut; the mineral streak and floral spice linger persistently.

Terroir & Origin

The vines are planted on extremely steep slopes of migmatite, granite and biotite – southeast-facing terraces that capture the sun, whilst cool northerly winds ensure balanced ripening. The vineyard was planted in 1896 and replanted in 1989; yields are extremely low at 15 to 20 hl/ha.

Grape Varieties & Vinification

40% Sérine, 40% Syrah, 20% Viognier – the Sérine, an ancestral relative of Syrah, is preserved at Maison Stephan through sélection massale. Vinified according to Jules Chauvet: cool 24-hour pre-fermentation maceration, cool carbonic maceration for 20 days, then 24 months in old Tronçais oak tonneaux. Unfiltered, unfined, only minimally sulphured.

Food Pairings

The floral spice and fine acid tension call for herb-crusted rack of lamb, pepper-crusted duck breast or braised oxtail. Also a powerful partner for wild mushroom ragout or aged Comté.

Special Characteristics

A Côte Rôtie of rare transparency: the high Viognier proportion of 20 per cent lends it an almost ethereal fragrance, whilst the ancient Sérine provides depth and colour intensity. Jean-Michel and Romain Stephan have worked for years without oenological additives – the result is a wine of vibrant purity and electric energy, ranking among the most authentic voices of the appellation.