The small appellation of Cote Rotie so nearly disappeared back in the 1970's - so tough to work are the vineyards here in this northern enclave of the Rhone that few sons and daughters wished to carry on their parents work and the vineyard area slumped to a mere few hectares; it is no wonder, the name translates as 'Roasted Slope' and in summer it is fiercely, insufferably hot with the steep terraced slopes hard to work and harder still to harvest.
Now the region is buzzing, with many new growers and wines of tremendous richness, grip, pepper tones and elegant freshness made from a unique blend of mainly Syrah softened by a dollop of white Viognier With the stone walled town of Ampuis at its centre, the appellation covers around 300 hectares, and the soil is schist, broken rock and granitic. The style of wine is intense, full bodied and peppery from the Syrah, tempered by softer nuances from the small amount of Viognier.
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