Domaine René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 2023 is a Syrah with a small portion of Viognier from the Côte Blonde vineyards of the Northern Rhône, France. It is widely considered as one of the pinnacle expressions of the northern Rhône Valley.
In the glass it shows orange blossom and spice box beside pencil shavings, with a savoury edge. The palate is silky and energetic, carried by juicy acidity, and the finish is long.
This wine would pair well with roast lamb, and it suits anyone who likes a perfumed, silky Syrah with room to age.
Rostaing only makes about 350 cases of this wine a year.
What it tastes like
This wine has raspberry and blackberry fruit, with graphite and a cool, mineral thread underneath. The aromas on the nose add a hint of sweet spice and a touch of salinity.
On the palate the tannins are fine and the structure is well balanced. It will gain from a few years in bottle.
Style at a glance
- Body: Medium to full
- Sweetness: Dry
- Acidity: Fresh and juicy
- Tannin: Fine and silky
- Oak: Large demi-muid casks with no more than 10% new oak, so the oak stays in the background
- Style: Perfumed, silky, mineral Syrah
Food to enjoy this with
- Roast lamb with thyme and garlic
- Roast squab or quail
- Duck breast with a cherry sauce
- Truffled mushroom risotto
- Aged Beaufort
- Peppery charcuterie
- Grilled salmon with a cracked pepper crust, an unexpected match because the wine's fresh acidity and pepper cut through the oily fish
Who makes it
René Rostaing made his first wine in 1971. His vineyards grew through inheritance from Albert Dervieux and Marius Gentaz, two of the best-known growers in Côte-Rôtie.
The Domaine holds about 7.5 hectares across 14 named vineyard sites. The Côte Blonde is its smallest holding, on a steep hillside of poor, mineral soil called arzel, which has silex and mica in it. It is the lighter counterpart to the more powerful wines of the Côte Brune, and the oldest vines, over 70 years old, go into this wine.
René's son Pierre Rostaing took over the Domaine in 2015, after training in Burgundy with Dominique Lafon in Meursault. Pierre believes stems are essential to the perfume of Côte-Rôtie, and he uses whole bunches even in cooler years. The Côte Blonde is traditionally planted with a small share of Viognier, which Rostaing co-ferments with the Syrah, and the wine is bottled unfiltered.
For the 2023 vintage, the grapes were fermented as 100% whole bunches, and the wine was aged in demi-muids (large casks) with no more than 10% new oak.
About the vintage
Catriona Felstead (Master of Wine) described a Northern Rhône season that began with heavy spring rain and mildew pressure. A heatwave followed from 10 to 23 August, with temperatures above 40°C. She reports yields down by around 20%, and Pierre Rostaing told her it was the shortest vintage in recent memory, apart from 2021.
In Vinous's 2023 Northern Rhône report, Nicolas Greinacher found Côte-Rôtie the strongest appellation for red wine that year. It missed the heavy rain of 18 September, and settled autumn weather into mid-October let growers pick over 4 to 5 weeks. He describes the wines as fresh, calm and balanced, with ripe fruit and gentle tannins.
Critic scores and ratings
- 96 POINTS – Yohan Castaing – Inside Bordeaux
- 95 POINTS – Nicolas Greinacher – Vinous
When to drink it
Give it a few years before opening. Critics suggest drinking it from about 2029, and it should hold well into the 2040s.
Technical details
| Producer: |
Domaine René Rostaing |
| Wine: |
Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde |
| Vintage: |
2023 |
| Variety: |
Syrah with a small share of Viognier |
| Region: |
Côte-Rôtie, Northern Rhône |
| Country: |
France |
| Oak: |
Demi-muid casks, no more than 10% new oak |
| Fermentation: |
100% whole bunches |
Where to buy
The Domaine René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 2023 is available online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it at our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores, alongside a large range of New Zealand and international wine. Online and in both stores you can select a mixed case from a large range of wines.
Questions we are often asked
What does Rostaing Côte Blonde 2023 taste like?
Domaine René Rostaing Côte Blonde 2023 shows black cherry, violet, black pepper and orange blossom, with graphite underneath and juicy acidity.
What grape is Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 2023 made from?
Domaine René Rostaing Côte Blonde 2023 is made from Syrah with a small share of Viognier, which Rostaing traditionally co-ferments with it.
Is Rostaing Côte Blonde 2023 made with whole bunches?
Yes. Domaine René Rostaing ferments the 2023 Côte Blonde as 100% whole bunches, stems included.
How long can I cellar Rostaing Côte Blonde 2023?
Most critics start the drinking window around 2029 or 2030 and run it through the 2040s, so a few years in the cellar suits Domaine René Rostaing Côte Blonde 2023.
What is the Côte Blonde?
The Côte Blonde is the lighter-soiled side of the Côte-Rôtie slope in the Northern Rhône, France, and the counterpart to the Côte Brune.
Where can I buy Domaine René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 2023?
The Winery sells Domaine René Rostaing Côte-Rôtie Côte Blonde 2023 online at thewineryonline.co.nz for delivery within New Zealand. You can also buy it in our Queenstown and Arrowtown wine stores.
