Domaine de Bonserine, Côte-Rôtie, La Sarrasine, Rhône, France, 2023

Product code: 1914

Producer Profile

This prestigious estate has only 10ha of vineyards, consisting mainly of old Syrah vines known locally called ‘Serine’ – a very old clone of Syrah that produces small clusters of loose berries resulting in a particularly aromatic wine.

No pesticides, herbicides or chemicals are used in the domaine’s sustainable agriculture regime, while a recent revamp of their cellar enables them to craft even more refined, elegant wines.

Viticulture

The vines are trained on stakes for spur pruning or simple Guyot, particularly for older Serines to encourage a modest number of clusters. Composted manure is applied and ploughed into the soil in spring to strengthen the roots and encourage them to delve deeper into the rock. Each vine is tended with the aim of producing grapes of the highest quality, following the principles of reasoned agriculture and tailored to the plant, the climate, and disease pressure. De-budding and cluster thinning are carried out routinely, and the rows are grassed over to help control yield, limiting each plant to four to six clusters. The appellation permits a maximum yield of 44 hl/ha, while at Bonserine the average is around 30 hl/ha. At harvest, sorting begins in the vineyard and continues on the sorting tables. The harvest is entirely manual, and the grapes arrive at the cellar in small 25-kilogram boxes to preserve the integrity of each cluster.

Winemaking

Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel. Periodic racking is carried out during the long ageing period, partly in 228-litre barriques and partly in 500-litre barrels. During this crucial stage, the wine develops its aromas and gains stability. Bottling takes place after 22–36 months of ageing, with rigorous tasting conducted before the final blend is assembled.

Tasting Note

Rich, sweet fruit, dense and meaty on the nose with notes of olive and spice. Warm and ripe on the palate with raspberry and black cherry as well as a distinct mineral dimension. Refined and elegant exactly the right measure of savoury tannins. A classy glass of wine.