Côte-Rôtie Les Schistes Clusel-Roch 2016 (Red)

Domaine Clusel-Roch's farming heritage goes back decades, before Rhône crus even became a force in the wine world, but until the 1980s it did not produce the renowned Côte-Rôtie wines that it produces today. Gilbert Clusel arrived at the domaine after completing his studies and worked tirelessly, clearing and revitalising the old abandoned vines. In the 1990s saw the domaine transform. Massal Selection (replanting new vineyards with cuttings from exceptional old vines), the omission of chemical products and the construction of a new winery all contributed to the domain's transformation. Gilbert and Brigitte then obtained organic certification in 2002, an impressive feat at a time when not much Côte-Rôtie was organic: the steep slopes in this area make it difficult to cultivate the vineyards organically. Today, Gilbert and Brigitte's son Guillaume is more or less responsible for the running of the domaine. After Côte-Rôtie and Condrieu, he introduced a third appellation to the domaine's portfolio, the AOC Coteaux du Lyonnais

The history of Maison Clusel-Roch dates back to 1935 when Baptiste Clusel planted his parcels with the Syrah varietal. However, it was not until 1969 that the first vintage was produced – bottled by Baptiste’s son René. The property now extends to 20 hectares. The harvest is done by hand and the grapes are sorted meticulously.
The vines are aged 10 to 60 years and are organically farmed. This Côte Rotie (95% Syrah and 5% Viognier) has benefited from a south-eastern exposure over an area of 4 hectares. Using massal selection to produce more complex grapes, in this case from the Serine Ampuis varietal. The grapes are partially destemmed then fermentation takes place with indigenous yeasts in vats. There are punched down and reassembled. The wine is then aged for two years in in oak barrels (228 litres - 15% of which are new).
This is the domain’s most famous Côte Rôtie Cuvée. Accessible, it is nevertheless refined and elegant with a superb tannic structure. Aromas of black fruits, liquorice, and rose all evolve nicely. With age, it will develop notes closer to oak and tobacco. It can be enjoyed when young but can equally be kept for 10 years. Serve this wine at 16 ° C, accompanied by grilled meat, duck with cranberry sauce or a wild boar terrine.

Consult price estimate for: Clusel-Roch