Côtes du Rhône Rouge „Cuvée César“ AOC 2020

Wine Description for Côtes du Rhône Rouge „Cuvée César“ AOC 2020 by Roche-Audran

Colour & Appearance

Lightly transparent ruby red with youthful freshness – a hue that reflects the elegance of old Grenache vines and restrained winemaking.

Nose

A captivating aromatic profile that oscillates between fruit and spice: ripe dark raspberries and wild strawberries meet blackberry and cherries. Beneath weaves a fascinating tapestry of clove, cinnamon and juniper, accentuated by Provençal herbs such as thyme and rosemary, rounded off by a fine cedarwood note.

Palate

Here the true class of this Grenache reveals itself: juicy and sensual, with concentrated dark fruit structured by refined tannins – whose texture recalls the surface of burnt clay. The present, ripe acidity lends the wine remarkable freshness despite its 14% alcohol. A balancing act between power and finesse, between southern opulence and cool clarity, executed to perfection.

Finish

Long, finely spiced and tense with lingering fruit and a subtle echo of spices and Mediterranean herbs.

Terroir & Origin

The 80 to 100-year-old Grenache vines are rooted in the Coteaux Versant Nord on a three-hectare vineyard site. The soil combines clay and limestone in the subsoil with alluvial deposits and gravel at the surface – a combination that imparts structure and minerality. The strict yield of only 35 hl/ha guarantees maximum concentration.

Grape Variety & Winemaking

100% Grenache Noir – a bold commitment to the variety. Spontaneous fermentation and twelve months‘ ageing in 50-hectolitre foudres of Tronçais oak lend the wine complexity without oak dominance. Vincent Rochette practises precise, unobtrusive craftsmanship here.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Perfect with braised lamb with Provençal herbs, beef stew, Coq au Vin or aged Comté. Also an excellent choice with game dishes and aubergine gratin.

Special Features

A prime example of how old vines and uncompromising yield reduction can also produce wines of remarkable finesse in the southern Rhône – far removed from clumsy southern fruit opulence.