Côtes du Rhône blanc “Cuvée César” 2024

Wine description for Côtes du Rhône blanc “Cuvée César” 2024 by Roche-Audran

Colour & appearance

Medium straw yellow with a clear, vibrant shine – a wine that radiates freshness even in the glass.

Nose

Subtle on the approach, yet astonishingly intense in its depths: yellow pears and white peach meet lemon and grapefruit zest, accompanied by jasmine, a hint of coriander seed, Mediterranean herbs and a fine, cool stony note. An aromatic profile that expresses the southern Rhône without ever becoming loud.

Palate

The ageing in wood lends the César a creamy texture and a delicate veil of vanilla. Beneath this lies the fine sweetness of ripe, fleshy pear fruit and dense extract – balanced by crisp acidity and a fine, lively minerality. Sensual yet never heavy: a wine of wonderful balance that feels remarkably slender despite its 14%.

Finish

Juicy and persistent, with citrus freshness and a salty, herbal trail on the finish – the final impression is cool and precise.

Terroir & origin

The roughly 30-year-old vines are rooted near Buisson in a four-hectare vineyard: clay and limestone in the subsoil, topped by alluvial deposits and gravel. East of the Rhône, Vincent Rochette has created a refuge of trees, shrubs and herbs around his vineyards – living biodiversity that defines the estate.

Grape varieties & vinification

A cuvée of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Clairette and Bourboulenc. Spontaneously fermented at yields of around 30 hl/ha, followed by nine months of ageing – one third in 225-litre casks, two thirds in 600-litre casks.

Food recommendations

A versatile food wine: with grilled sea bream fillet with fennel, goat’s cheese tart with thyme, chicken in lemon-olive sauce or a classic ratatouille. Also a fine choice alongside asparagus with hollandaise sauce.

Special features

Named after Vincent’s grandfather, the Cuvée César represents the estate’s ambition beyond its everyday range. The domaine is farmed biodynamically – and this white César proves that great Rhône whites need be neither heavy nor expensive. Creaminess and tension at once: that is its rare double act.